pointer

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point·er

(poin′tər)

1. One that directs, indicates, or points, especially:

a. A long tapered stick or a laser beacon used to call attention to objects, as on a chart or blackboard.

b. A scale indicator on a watch, balance, or other measuring instrument.

a. A dog of a breed developed in Europe to point game, having a smooth, short-haired coat that is often white with black or brownish markings.

b. A dog of any of various similar breeds.

a. A piece of advice; a suggestion: Let me give you a few pointers on your golf swing.

b. A piece of indicative information: interest rates and other pointers in the economic forecast.

4. Computers A variable that holds the address of a core storage location.

5. Computers A symbol appearing on a display screen in a GUI that lets the user select a command by clicking with a pointing device or pressing the enter key when the pointer symbol is positioned on the appropriate button or icon.

6. Either of the two stars in the Big Dipper, Dubhe and Merak, that are aligned so that a line drawn between them extends north to Polaris, the north star.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pointer

(ˈpɔɪntə)

1. a person or thing that points

2. (Mechanical Engineering) an indicator on a measuring instrument

3. (Education) a long rod or cane used by a lecturer to point to parts of a map, blackboard, etc

4. (Animals) one of a breed of large swift smooth-coated dogs, usually white with black, liver, or lemon markings: when on shooting expeditions it points to the bird with its nose, body, and tail in a straight line

5. a helpful piece of information or advice

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

point•er

(ˈpɔɪn tər)

n.

1. one that points.

2. a long, tapering stick used in pointing things out on a map, blackboard, or the like.

3. the hand on a watch dial, clock face, scale, etc.

4. one of a breed of large shorthaired hunting dogs that point game.

5. a piece of advice, esp. on how to succeed in a specific area.

6. a small symbol controlled by a mouse or other input device, used in a graphical user interface to select commands, options, or text on a computer screen.

7. Pointers, the two outer stars of the Big Dipper that lie on a line that passes very near Polaris and are used for finding it.

[1490–1500]

pointer

, point man - A pointer or point man was first a cowboy riding at the front of a herd of cattle.

pointer

noun

1. hint, tip, suggestion, warning, recommendation, caution, piece of information, piece of advice Here are a few pointers to help you make a choice.

2. indication, lead, sign, evidence, signal, suggestion, symptom, hint, implication, clue, indicator, inkling, intimation Sunday's elections should be a pointer to the public mood.

3. stick, pole, rod, cane She tapped on the map with her pointer.

4. indicator, hand, guide, needle, arrow The pointer indicates the pressure on the dial.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

pointer

noun

An item of advance or inside information given as a guide to action:

steer, tip.

Informal: tip-off.

Translations

تَلْميح، إشارَهعَصا للتأشيرمُؤَشِّر

náznakpokynručičkatipukazatel

fingerpegindikationpegepindviser

Zeiger Zeigestock Fingerzeig

δείκτης

osoitinpointteri

aiguille baguette conseil pointeur

mutatópálca

bendi-/kennaraprikvísbendingvísir

puntatore cane da punta freccia indicatore lancetta

pointer

pekepinn pekestokk

пойнтер стрелка

ukazovadlo

gösterge ibre ipucuişaret çubuğu

指示棒指针教鞭暗示

pointer

[ˈpɔɪntəʳ] N

1. (= indicator) → indicador m, aguja f; [of balance] → fiel m

2. (= stick) → puntero m

3. (= dog) → perro m de muestra

4. (= clue, indication) → indicación f, pista f
it is a pointer to a possible solution → es una indicación or pista para una posible solución
there is at present no pointer to the outcome → por ahora nada indica qué resultado tendrá
this is a pointer to the guilty man → es una pista que conducirá al criminal

5. (= advice) → consejo m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

pointer

[ˈpɔɪntə^r] n

(= advice) → tuyau m

(= clue) → indication f
Sunday's elections should be a pointer to the public mood → Les élections de dimanche devrait permettre de jauger l'opinion publique.
His victory in the first race is a pointer to his chance of remaining unbeaten → Sa victoire dans la première course indique qu'il a des chances de rester invaincu.

(= stick) → baguette f

(= needle) → aiguille f

(= dog) → chien m d'arrêt

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pointer

(= indicator) → Zeiger m; (mouse) pointer (Comput) → Mauszeiger m

(= stick) → Zeigestock m

(= dog) → Pointer m, → Vorstehhund m

(fig: = hint) → Hinweis m, → Fingerzeig m, → Tip m; he gave me some pointers on how to behave → er gab mir ein paar Hinweise, wie ich mich benehmen sollte

(esp Brit fig: = indication) → Anzeichen nt, → Hinweis m; a pointer to a possible solution → ein Hinweis auf eine mögliche Lösung

pointer

pointer speed

n (of mouse pointer) → Zeigergeschwindigkeit f

pointer trail

n (of mouse pointer) → Maus(zeiger)spur f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

pointer

[ˈpɔɪntəʳ] n

a. (indicator) → lancetta; (stick) → bacchetta

b. (dog) → pointer m inv

c. (clue) → indizio; (advice) → consiglio
to give sb some pointers on ... → consigliare qn su...
this is a pointer to the guilty man → questo è un indizio che ci aiuta ad identificare il colpevole

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

point

(point) noun

1. the sharp end of anything. the point of a pin; a sword point; at gunpoint (= threatened by a gun).

2. a piece of land that projects into the sea etc. The ship came round Lizard Point.

3. a small round dot or mark (.) a decimal point; five point three six (= 5.36); In punctuation, a point is another name for a full stop.

4. an exact place or spot. When we reached this point of the journey we stopped to rest.

5. an exact moment. Her husband walked in at that point.

6. a place on a scale especially of temperature. the boiling-point of water.

7. a division on a compass eg north, south-west etc.

8. a mark in scoring a competition, game, test etc. He has won by five points to two.

9. a particular matter for consideration or action. The first point we must decide is, where to meet; That's a good point; You've missed the point; That's the whole point; We're wandering away from the point.

10. (a) purpose or advantage. There's no point (in) asking me – I don't know.

11. a personal characteristic or quality. We all have our good points and our bad ones.

12. an electrical socket in a wall etc into which a plug can be put. Is there only one electrical point in this room?

verb

1. to aim in a particular direction. He pointed the gun at her.

2. to call attention to something especially by stretching the index finger in its direction. He pointed (his finger) at the door; He pointed to a sign.

3. to fill worn places in (a stone or brick wall etc) with mortar.

ˈpointed adjective

having a sharp end. a pointed nose; pointed shoes.

ˈpointer noun

1. a long stick used to indicate places on a large map etc.

2. an indicator on a dial. The pointer is on/at zero.

3. a hint; a suggestion. Give me some pointers on how to do it.

ˈpointless adjective

having no meaning or purpose. a pointless journey.

ˈpointlessly adverb

points noun plural

1. a movable section of rails which allow a train to cross over other lines or pass from one line to another. The points had to be changed before the train could continue.

2. the solid tips in the toes of ballet shoes. She can dance on her points.

be on the point of

to be about to (do something). I was on the point of going out when the telephone rang.

come to the point

1. (also get to the point) to reach the most important consideration in a conversation etc. He talked and talked but never came to the point.

2. (only with it as subject) to arrive at the moment when something must be done. He always promises to help, but when it comes to the point he's never there.

make a point of

to be especially careful to (do something). I'll make a point of asking her today.

make one's point

to state one's opinion persuasively.

point out

to indicate or draw attention to. He pointed out his house to her; I pointed out that we needed more money.

point one's toes

to stretch the foot out, shaping the toes into a point, when dancing etc.

References in classic literature ?

Willoughby's pointer, than he could describe to her the shades of his mind.

View in context

It is known that the English pointer has been greatly changed within the last century, and in this case the change has, it is believed, been chiefly effected by crosses with the fox-hound; but what concerns us is, that the change has been effected unconsciously and gradually, and yet so effectually, that, though the old Spanish pointer certainly came from Spain, Mr.

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However often she told herself that she must not get irritable when teaching her nephew, almost every time that, pointer in hand, she sat down to show him the French alphabet, she so longed to pour her own knowledge quickly and easily into the child- who was already afraid that Auntie might at any moment get angry- that at his slightest inattention she trembled, became flustered and heated, raised her voice, and sometimes pulled him by the arm and put him in the corner.

View in context

Upon its nose was a dial and a pointer. He set the pointer for a certain station in Greater Helium, raised the arched lid of the thing, stepped in and lay down upon the upholstered bottom.

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Not a whit abashed by the disappointment caused by his having come in place of the old prince, Veslovsky greeted Levin gaily, claiming acquaintance with him in the past, and snatching up Grisha into the carriage, lifted him over the pointer that Stepan Arkadyevitch had brought with him.

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Beyond her and a favourite old pointer he had, and between whom and himself an attachment subsisted during the period of his imbecility, the old man had not a single friend to mourn him, having indeed, during the whole course of his life, never taken the least pains to secure one.

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There, it is like this." Joan Durbeyfield, as she spoke, curved a sodden thumb and forefinger to the shape of the letter C, and used the other forefinger as a pointer, "'At the present moment,' he says to your father, 'your heart is enclosed all round there, and all round there; this space is still open,' 'a says.

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Now you would think that the first thing the king would do after listening to such a novelette from an entire stranger, would be to ask for credentials -- yes, and a pointer or two as to locality of castle, best route to it, and so on.

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It was a defective barometer, and had no hand but the stationary brass pointer, but I did not know that until afterward.

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No weather seemed to hinder him in these pastoral excursions: rain or fair, he would, when his hours of morning study were over, take his hat, and, followed by his father's old pointer, Carlo, go out on his mission of love or duty--I scarcely know in which light he regarded it.

View in context

He follows rigidly the conventions of dress and manners; but in the business of poking his nose into places where he does not belong he could give pointers to a civet cat or a jackdaw.

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My sporting dogs consist of two pointers, two harriers and two setters.

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Noun	1.	pointer - a mark to indicate a direction or relation arrow mark - a written or printed symbol (as for punctuation); "his answer was just a punctuation mark" shaft - a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer point, head - a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer; "the point of the arrow was due north"
	2.	pointer - an indicator as on a dial hand - a rotating pointer on the face of a timepiece; "the big hand counts the minutes" indicator - a device for showing the operating condition of some system electronic stylus, light pen - (computer science) a pointer that when pointed at a computer display senses whether or not the spot is illuminated needle - a slender pointer for indicating the reading on the scale of a measuring instrument
	3.	pointer - (computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions cursor indicator - a device for showing the operating condition of some system computer science, computing - the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures
	4.	pointer - a strong slender smooth-haired dog of Spanish origin having a white coat with brown or black patches; scents out and points to game Spanish pointer gun dog, sporting dog - a dog trained to work with sportsmen when they hunt with guns German short-haired pointer - liver or liver-and-white hunting dog developed in Germany; 3/4 pointer and 1/4 bloodhound Hungarian pointer, vizsla - Hungarian hunting dog resembling the Weimaraner but having a rich deep red coat