pointe

[ French pwant ]

noun

, Ballet.

, plural pointes [pwa, n, t].

1. the tip of the toe.
2. a position on the extreme tips of the toes.

pointe

/ pɔɪnt /

noun

1. ballet the tip of the toe (esp in the phrase on pointes )

Word History and Origins

Origin of pointe¹

1820–30; < French: pointe ( du pied ) “tiptoe,” literally, “extremity of the foot”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pointe¹

from French: point

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / en pointe, supporting one’s body weight on the extreme tips of the toes: onen pointes.

   dancing on pointe.

Example Sentences

I had quit ballet when we got to pointe shoes because it was too hard, and I was a decent swimmer but not a great one, and so on.

From Vox

One or two, it seemed to me, were actually still tiptoeing “en pointe.”

From The Daily Beast

After a long paddle of five or six hours we arrived at Pointe des Monts, where rough weather obliged us to put ashore.

From Project Gutenberg

He woke from it with a vigor and freshness that surprised him, and found the train pulling into the station at Pointe Levis.

From Project Gutenberg

Como itself is the head centre for this part of the lake region, but we used it only as a pointe de dpart.

From Project Gutenberg

These harsh words—harsh barking of the shepherd dog—spread an unseen consternation in Grande Pointe.

From Project Gutenberg

He glanced around condescendingly upon the people of Grande Pointe.

From Project Gutenberg