dot and point share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. dot means “a very small circular shape”. point means “a geometric element that has position but no extension”. point is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈdɑt/
1.n.a very small circular shape
“a row of points”
2.n.the United States federal department that institutes and coordinates national transportation programs; created in 1966
3.n.the shorter of the two telegraphic signals used in Morse code
/ˈpɔɪnt/
1.n.a geometric element that has position but no extension
“a point is defined by its coordinates”
2.n.the precise location of something; a spatially limited location
“she walked to a point where she could survey the whole street”
3.n.a brief version of the essential meaning of something
“get to the point”
| dot | point | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɑt/ | /ˈpɔɪnt/ |
| Said | daht | poynt |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 3 | 5 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 8 | 40 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | point | none recorded |
Full entry for dot · Full entry for point · More comparisons