8  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Point  \Point\,  n.  [F.  point,  and  probably  also  pointe,  L. 
  punctum,  puncta,  fr  pungere  punctum,  to  prick.  See 
  {Pungent},  and  cf  {Puncto},  {Puncture}.] 
  1.  That  which  pricks  or  pierces;  the  sharp  end  of  anything 
  esp.  the  sharp  end  of  a  piercing  instrument,  as  a  needle 
  or  a  pin. 
 
  2.  An  instrument  which  pricks  or  pierces,  as  a  sort  of  needle 
  used  by  engravers,  etchers,  lace  workers,  and  others 
  also  a  pointed  cutting  tool,  as  a  stone  cutter's  point; 
  --  called  also  {pointer}. 
 
  3.  Anything  which  tapers  to  a  sharp,  well-defined 
  termination.  Specifically:  A  small  promontory  or  cape;  a 
  tract  of  land  extending  into  the  water  beyond  the  common 
  shore  line 
 
  4.  The  mark  made  by  the  end  of  a  sharp,  piercing  instrument, 
  as  a  needle;  a  prick. 
 
  5.  An  indefinitely  small  space;  a  mere  spot  indicated  or 
  supposed.  Specifically:  (Geom.)  That  which  has  neither 
  parts  nor  magnitude;  that  which  has  position,  but  has 
  neither  length,  breadth,  nor  thickness,  --  sometimes 
  conceived  of  as  the  limit  of  a  line  that  by  the  motion  of 
  which  a  line  is  conceived  to  be  produced. 
 
  6.  An  indivisible  portion  of  time;  a  moment;  an  instant; 
  hence  the  verge. 
 
  When  time's  first  point  begun  Made  he  all  souls. 
  --Sir  J. 
  Davies. 
 
  7.  A  mark  of  punctuation;  a  character  used  to  mark  the 
  divisions  of  a  composition,  or  the  pauses  to  be  observed 
  in  reading,  or  to  point  off  groups  of  figures,  etc.;  a 
  stop,  as  a  comma,  a  semicolon,  and  esp.  a  period;  hence 
  figuratively,  an  end  or  conclusion. 
 
  And  there  a  point,  for  ended  is  my  tale.  --Chaucer. 
 
  Commas  and  points  they  set  exactly  right  --Pope. 
 
  8.  Whatever  serves  to  mark  progress,  rank,  or  relative 
  position,  or  to  indicate  a  transition  from  one  state  or 
  position  to  another,  degree;  step;  stage;  hence  position 
  or  condition  attained;  as  a  point  of  elevation,  or  of 
  depression;  the  stock  fell  off  five  points;  he  won  by 
  tenpoints  ``A  point  of  precedence.''  --Selden.  ``Creeping 
  on  from  point  to  point.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  A  lord  full  fat  and  in  good  point.  --Chaucer. 
 
  9.  That  which  arrests  attention,  or  indicates  qualities  or 
  character;  a  salient  feature;  a  characteristic;  a 
  peculiarity;  hence  a  particular;  an  item;  a  detail;  as 
  the  good  or  bad  points  of  a  man,  a  horse,  a  book,  a  story, 
  etc 
 
  He  told  him  point  for  point,  in  short  and  plain. 
  --Chaucer. 
 
  In  point  of  religion  and  in  point  of  honor.  --Bacon. 
 
  Shalt  thou  dispute  With  Him  the  points  of  liberty  ? 
  --Milton. 
 
  10.  Hence  the  most  prominent  or  important  feature,  as  of  an 
  argument,  discourse,  etc.;  the  essential  matter;  esp., 
  the  proposition  to  be  established;  as  the  point  of  an 
  anecdote.  ``Here  lies  the  point.''  --Shak. 
 
  They  will  hardly  prove  his  point.  --Arbuthnot. 
 
  11.  A  small  matter;  a  trifle;  a  least  consideration;  a 
  punctilio. 
 
  This  fellow  doth  not  stand  upon  points.  --Shak. 
 
  [He]  cared  not  for  God  or  man  a  point.  --Spenser. 
 
  12.  (Mus.)  A  dot  or  mark  used  to  designate  certain  tones  or 
  time;  as: 
  a  (Anc.  Mus.)  A  dot  or  mark  distinguishing  or 
  characterizing  certain  tones  or  styles;  as  points  of 
  perfection,  of  augmentation,  etc.;  hence  a  note;  a 
  tune.  ``Sound  the  trumpet  --  not  a  levant,  or  a 
  flourish,  but  a  point  of  war.''  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
  b  (Mod.  Mus.)  A  dot  placed  at  the  right  hand  of  a  note, 
  to  raise  its  value,  or  prolong  its  time,  by  one  half, 
  as  to  make  a  whole  note  equal  to  three  half  notes,  a 
  half  note  equal  to  three  quarter  notes. 
 
  13.  (Astron.)  A  fixed  conventional  place  for  reference,  or 
  zero  of  reckoning,  in  the  heavens,  usually  the 
  intersection  of  two  or  more  great  circles  of  the  sphere, 
  and  named  specifically  in  each  case  according  to  the 
  position  intended;  as  the  equinoctial  points;  the 
  solstitial  points;  the  nodal  points;  vertical  points, 
  etc  See  {Equinoctial  Nodal}. 
 
  14.  (Her.)  One  of  the  several  different  parts  of  the 
  escutcheon.  See  {Escutcheon}. 
 
  15.  (Naut.) 
  a  One  of  the  points  of  the  compass  (see  {Points  of  the 
  compass},  below);  also  the  difference  between  two 
  points  of  the  compass;  as  to  fall  off  a  point. 
  b  A  short  piece  of  cordage  used  in  reefing  sails.  See 
  {Reef  point},  under  {Reef}. 
 
  16.  (Anc.  Costume)  A  a  string  or  lace  used  to  tie  together 
  certain  parts  of  the  dress.  --Sir  W.  Scott. 
 
  17.  Lace  wrought  the  needle;  as  point  de  Venise;  Brussels 
  point.  See  Point  lace,  below. 
 
  18.  pl  (Railways)  A  switch.  [Eng.] 
 
  19.  An  item  of  private  information;  a  hint;  a  tip;  a  pointer. 
  [Cant,  U.  S.] 
 
  20.  (Cricket)  A  fielder  who  is  stationed  on  the  off  side 
  about  twelve  or  fifteen  yards  from  and  a  little  in 
  advance  of  the  batsman. 
 
  21.  The  attitude  assumed  by  a  pointer  dog  when  he  finds  game; 
  as  the  dog  came  to  a  point.  See  {Pointer}. 
 
  22.  (Type  Making)  A  standard  unit  of  measure  for  the  size  of 
  type  bodies,  being  one  twelfth  of  the  thickness  of  pica 
  type  See  {Point  system  of  type},  under  {Type}. 
 
  23.  A  tyne  or  snag  of  an  antler. 
 
  24.  One  of  the  spaces  on  a  backgammon  board. 
 
  25.  (Fencing)  A  movement  executed  with  the  saber  or  foil;  as 
  tierce  point. 
 
  Note:  The  word  point  is  a  general  term,  much  used  in  the 
  sciences,  particularly  in  mathematics,  mechanics, 
  perspective,  and  physics,  but  generally  either  in  the 
  geometrical  sense  or  in  that  of  degree,  or  condition 
  of  change,  and  with  some  accompanying  descriptive  or 
  qualifying  term,  under  which  in  the  vocabulary,  the 
  specific  uses  are  explained;  as  boiling  point,  carbon 
  point,  dry  point,  freezing  point,  melting  point, 
  vanishing  point,  etc 
 
  {At  all  points},  in  every  particular,  completely;  perfectly. 
  --Shak. 
 
  {At  point},  {In  point},  {At},  {In},  or  On  {the  point},  as 
  near  as  can  be  on  the  verge;  about  (see  {About},  prep., 
  6);  as  at  the  point  of  death;  he  was  on  the  point  of 
  speaking.  ``In  point  to  fall  down.''  --Chaucer.  ``Caius 
  Sidius  Geta,  at  point  to  have  been  taken  recovered 
  himself  so  valiantly  as  brought  day  on  his  side.'' 
  --Milton. 
 
  {Dead  point}.  (Mach.)  Same  as  {Dead  center},  under  {Dead}. 
 
  {Far  point}  (Med.),  in  ophthalmology,  the  farthest  point  at 
  which  objects  are  seen  distinctly.  In  normal  eyes  the 
  nearest  point  at  which  objects  are  seen  distinctly;  either 
  with  the  two  eyes  together  (binocular  near  point),  or  with 
  each  eye  separately  (monocular  near  point). 
 
  {Nine  points  of  the  law},  all  but  the  tenth  point;  the 
  greater  weight  of  authority. 
 
  {On  the  point}.  See  {At  point},  above. 
 
  {Point  lace},  lace  wrought  with  the  needle,  as  distinguished 
  from  that  made  on  the  pillow. 
 
  {Point  net},  a  machine-made  lace  imitating  a  kind  of  Brussels 
  lace  (Brussels  ground). 
 
  {Point  of  concurrence}  (Geom.),  a  point  common  to  two  lines, 
  but  not  a  point  of  tangency  or  of  intersection,  as  for 
  instance,  that  in  which  a  cycloid  meets  its  base. 
 
  {Point  of  contrary  flexure},  a  point  at  which  a  curve  changes 
  its  direction  of  curvature,  or  at  which  its  convexity  and 
  concavity  change  sides. 
 
  {Point  of  order},  in  parliamentary  practice,  a  question  of 
  order  or  propriety  under  the  rules 
 
  {Point  of  sight}  (Persp.),  in  a  perspective  drawing,  the 
  point  assumed  as  that  occupied  by  the  eye  of  the 
  spectator. 
 
  {Point  of  view},  the  relative  position  from  which  anything  is 
  seen  or  any  subject  is  considered. 
 
  {Points  of  the  compass}  (Naut.),  the  thirty-two  points  of 
  division  of  the  compass  card  in  the  mariner's  compass;  the 
  corresponding  points  by  which  the  circle  of  the  horizon  is 
  supposed  to  be  divided,  of  which  the  four  marking  the 
  directions  of  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  are  called 
  cardinal  points,  and  the  rest  are  named  from  their 
  respective  directions,  as  N.  by  E.,  N.  N.  E.,  N.  E.  by  N., 
  N.  E.,  etc  See  Illust.  under  {Compass}. 
 
  {Point  paper},  paper  pricked  through  so  as  to  form  a  stencil 
  for  transferring  a  design. 
 
  {Point  system  of  type}.  See  under  {Type}. 
 
  {Singular  point}  (Geom.),  a  point  of  a  curve  which  possesses 
  some  property  not  possessed  by  points  in  general  on  the 
  curve,  as  a  cusp,  a  point  of  inflection,  a  node,  etc 
 
  {To  carry  one's  point},  to  accomplish  one's  object,  as  in  a 
  controversy. 
 
  {To  make  a  point  of},  to  attach  special  importance  to 
 
  {To  make},  or  {gain},  {a  point},  accomplish  that  which  was 
  proposed;  also  to  make  advance  by  a  step,  grade,  or 
  position. 
 
  {To  mark},  or  {score},  {a  point},  as  in  billiards,  cricket, 
  etc.,  to  note  down  or  to  make  a  successful  hit,  run, 
  etc 
 
  {To  strain  a  point},  to  go  beyond  the  proper  limit  or  rule 
  to  stretch  one's  authority  or  conscience. 
 
  {Vowel  point},  in  Hebrew,  and  certain  other  Eastern  and 
  ancient  languages,  a  mark  placed  above  or  below  the 
  consonant,  or  attached  to  it  representing  the  vowel,  or 
  vocal  sound,  which  precedes  or  follows  the  consonant. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gain  \Gain\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Gained}  (g[=a]nd);  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Gaining}.]  [From  gain,  n.  but  prob.  influenced  by  F. 
  gagner  to  earn,  gain,  OF  gaaignier  to  cultivate,  OHG. 
  weidin[=o]n,  weidinen  to  pasture,  hunt,  fr  weida  pasturage, 
  G.  weide,  akin  to  Icel.  vei[eth]r  hunting,  AS  w[=a][eth]u, 
  cf  L.  venari  to  hunt,  E.  venison.  See  {Gain},  n.,  profit.] 
  1.  To  get  as  profit  or  advantage;  to  obtain  or  acquire  by 
  effort  or  labor;  as  to  gain  a  good  living. 
 
  What  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole 
  world,  and  lose  his  own  soul?  --Matt.  xvi. 
  26. 
 
  To  gain  dominion,  or  to  keep  it  gained.  --Milton. 
 
  For  fame  with  toil  we  gain,  but  lose  with  ease. 
  --Pope. 
 
  2.  To  come  off  winner  or  victor  in  to  be  successful  in  to 
  obtain  by  competition;  as  to  gain  a  battle;  to  gain  a 
  case  at  law;  to  gain  a  prize. 
 
  3.  To  draw  into  any  interest  or  party;  to  win  to  one's  side 
  to  conciliate. 
 
  If  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother. 
  --Matt.  xviii. 
  15. 
 
  To  gratify  the  queen,  and  gained  the  court. 
  --Dryden. 
 
  4.  To  reach;  to  attain  to  to  arrive  at  as  to  gain  the  top 
  of  a  mountain;  to  gain  a  good  harbor. 
 
  Forded  Usk  and  gained  the  wood.  --Tennyson. 
 
  5.  To  get  incur,  or  receive,  as  loss  harm,  or  damage.  [Obs. 
  or  Ironical] 
 
  Ye  should  .  .  .  not  have  loosed  from  Crete,  and  to 
  have  gained  this  harm  and  loss  --Acts  xxvii. 
  21. 
 
  {Gained  day},  the  calendar  day  gained  in  sailing  eastward 
  around  the  earth. 
 
  {To  gain  ground},  to  make  progress;  to  advance  in  any 
  undertaking;  to  prevail;  to  acquire  strength  or  extent. 
 
  {To  gain  over},  to  draw  to  one's  party  or  interest;  to  win 
  over 
 
  {To  gain  the  wind}  (Naut.),  to  reach  the  windward  side  of 
  another  ship. 
 
  Syn:  To  obtain;  acquire;  get  procure;  win;  earn;  attain; 
  achieve. 
 
  Usage:  See  {Obtain}.  --  {To  Gain},  {Win}.  Gain  implies  only 
  that  we  get  something  by  exertion;  win,  that  we  do  it 
  in  competition  with  others  A  person  gains  knowledge, 
  or  gains  a  prize,  simply  by  striving  for  it  he  wins  a 
  victory,  or  wins  a  prize,  by  taking  it  in  a  struggle 
  with  others 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gain  \Gain\  (g[=a]n),  n.  [Cf.  W.  gan  a  mortise.]  (Arch.) 
  A  square  or  beveled  notch  cut  out  of  a  girder,  binding  joist, 
  or  other  timber  which  supports  a  floor  beam,  so  as  to  receive 
  the  end  of  the  floor  beam. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gain  \Gain\,  a.  [OE.  gein,  gain,  good,  near  quick;  cf  Icel. 
  gegn  ready,  serviceable,  and  gegn,  adv.,  against,  opposite. 
  Cf  {Ahain}.] 
  Convenient;  suitable;  direct;  near  handy;  dexterous;  easy; 
  profitable;  cheap;  respectable.  [Obs.  or  Prov.  Eng.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gain  \Gain\  (g[=a]n),  n.  [OE.  gain,  gein,  ga[yogh]hen,  gain, 
  advantage,  Icel.  gagn;  akin  to  Sw  gagn,  Dan.  gavn,  cf  Goth. 
  gageigan  to  gain.  The  word  was  prob.  influenced  by  F.  gain 
  gain,  OF  gaain.  Cf  {Gain},  v.  t.] 
  1.  That  which  is  gained,  obtained,  or  acquired,  as  increase, 
  profit,  advantage,  or  benefit;  --  opposed  to  {loss}. 
 
  But  what  things  were  gain  to  me  those  I  counted 
  loss  for  Christ.  --Phil.  iii. 
  7. 
 
  Godliness  with  contentment  is  great  gain.  --1  Tim. 
  vi  6. 
 
  Every  one  shall  share  in  the  gains.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  The  obtaining  or  amassing  of  profit  or  valuable 
  possessions;  acquisition;  accumulation.  ``The  lust  of 
  gain.''  --Tennyson. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Gain  \Gain\,  v.  i. 
  To  have  or  receive  advantage  or  profit;  to  acquire  gain;  to 
  grow  rich;  to  advance  in  interest,  health,  or  happiness;  to 
  make  progress;  as  the  sick  man  gains  daily. 
 
  Thou  hast  greedily  gained  of  thy  neighbors  by 
  extortion.  --Ezek.  xxii. 
  12. 
 
  {Gaining  twist},  in  rifled  firearms,  a  twist  of  the  grooves, 
  which  increases  regularly  from  the  breech  to  the  muzzle. 
 
  {To  gain  on}  or  {upon}. 
  a  To  encroach  on  as  the  ocean  gains  on  the  land. 
  b  To  obtain  influence  with 
  c  To  win  ground  upon  to  move  faster  than  as  in  a  race  or 
  contest. 
  d  To  get  the  better  of  to  have  the  advantage  of 
 
  The  English  have  not  only  gained  upon  the  Venetians 
  in  the  Levant,  but  have  their  cloth  in  Venice 
  itself  --Addison. 
 
  My  good  behavior  had  so  far  gained  on  the  emperor, 
  that  I  began  to  conceive  hopes  of  liberty.  --Swift. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  gain 
  n  1:  a  quantity  that  is  added;  "there  was  an  addition  to  property 
  taxes  this  year";  "they  recorded  the  cattle's  gain  in 
  weight  over  a  period  of  weeks"  [syn:  {addition},  {increase}] 
  2:  the  advantageous  quality  of  being  beneficial  [syn:  {profit}] 
  3:  the  amount  of  increase  in  signal  power  or  voltage  or  current 
  expressed  as  the  ratio  of  output  to  input  [syn:  {amplification}] 
  4:  the  amount  by  which  the  revenue  of  a  business  exceeds  its 
  cost  of  operating  [ant:  {loss}] 
  v  1:  obtain:  "derive  pleasure  from  one's  garden"  [syn:  {derive}] 
  2:  win  something  through  one's  efforts  [syn:  {win}]  [ant:  {lose}] 
  3:  derive  benefit  from  [syn:  {profit},  {benefit}] 
  4:  reach  a  destination,  either  real  or  abstract;  "We  hit 
  Detroit  by  noon";  "The  water  reached  the  doorstep";  "We 
  barely  made  the  plane";  "I  have  to  hit  the  MAC  machine 
  before  the  weekend  starts"  [syn:  {reach},  {attain},  {make}, 
  {hit},  {arrive  at}] 
  5:  obtain  advantages,  such  as  points,  etc.;  "The  home  team  was 
  gaining  ground"  [syn:  {advance},  {win},  {make  headway},  {get 
  ahead},  {gain  ground}]  [ant:  {fall  back}] 
  6:  rise  in  rate  or  price;  "The  stock  market  gained  24  points 
  today"  [syn:  {advance}] 
  7:  increase  in  "gain  momentum";  "gain  nerve" 
  8:  earn  on  some  commercial  or  business  transaction;  earn  as 
  salary  or  wages;  "How  much  do  you  make  a  month  in  your  new 
  job?"  "She  earns  a  lot  in  her  new  job";  "this  merger 
  brought  in  lots  of  money";  "He  clears  $5,000  each  month" 
  [syn:  {take  in},  {clear},  {make},  {earn},  {realize},  {pull 
  in},  {bring  in}] 
  9:  increase  (one's  body  weight)  [syn:  {put  on}]  [ant:  {reduce}] 
 
  From  V.E.R.A.  --  Virtual  Entity  of  Relevant  Acronyms  13  March  2001  [vera]: 
 
  GAIN 
  German  Advanced  Integrated  Network  (IBM) 
 
 

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