pointer

[ poin-ter ]

/ ˈpɔɪn tər /

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See synonyms for: pointer / pointers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that points.

a long, tapering stick used by teachers, lecturers, etc., in pointing things out on a map, blackboard, or the like.

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

Military. the member of an artillery crew who aims the weapon.

one of a breed of short-haired hunting dogs trained to point game.

a piece of advice, especially on how to succeed in a specific area: The food expert gave some good pointers on making better salads.

Computers.

an identifier giving the location in storage of something of interest, as a data item, table, or subroutine.
a moveable icon in a graphical user interface, as an arrow, that marks the user’s location in the interface relative to areas of the screen where user input is possible.See also cursor (def. 1).

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

OTHER WORDS FOR pointer

6 tip, hint, suggestion, caution.

See synonyms for pointer on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of pointer

First recorded in 1490–1500; point + -er¹

Words nearby pointer

pointed, pointed arch, pointedly, pointel, Pointe-Noire, pointer, Pointers, point estimate, point estimation, point group, point guard

How to use pointer in a sentence

As Samaira hovered her mouse pointer over the command, the button disappeared.
Samaira Mehta shows other kids the fun of coding by inventing board games|Gina Rich|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
We’ve covered this in plenty of depth elsewhere, but it’s worth dropping some quick pointers here.
How to reset your devices without losing everything|David Nield|January 28, 2021|Popular-Science
Take a look at the “comfort” section above for good pointers about exactly how your body should sit in relation to your office chair.
Best office chair: Get comfy, stay productive with our office furniture picks|PopSci Commerce Team|January 11, 2021|Popular-Science
Over time, the communications have become more personal, ranging from her reflections on her summer vacation to pointers on well-being from SAP’s chief medical officer.
The CMO as therapist: Marketing chiefs take on more intimate workplace role in pandemic|Jessica Davies|December 15, 2020|Digiday

The National Audubon Society’s backyard birding guide has additional pointers.
A concise guide to birding in your own backyard|Erin E. Williams|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
Therefore, it is not possible for any F-35 schedule to include a video data link or infrared pointer at this point.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Nor does the jet have the ability to capture high-definition video, utilize an infra-red pointer.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Turn him belly-up and stroke him to sleep with your pointer finger.
Aubrey Plaza’s Great Disconnect|Aubrey Plaza|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Kentucky freshman sunk his third game-winning three-pointer in a row, launching fresh claims about his ‘clutch gene.’
Was Aaron Harrison’s Game-Winning Three-Pointer ‘Clutch’?|Robert Silverman|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The camera crew took advantage of this and used a green laser pointer to entice the cheerleaders to move around the stadium.
‘The Puppy Bowl’: The Super Bowl’s Fiercest Rival|Lori-Lee Emshey|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His long pointer was dancing a fanciful figure on the gigantic map of Russia.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
He dropped a slender pointer upon the wire and engaged its grooved tip, and then the flying was out of his hands.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
Roly had seen the pole and pointer used in New England, but the idea of sewing the hook inside of the bait-fish was a novel one.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail|Arthur R. Thompson
The position of the contact B may be indicated on the scale by a slender pointer, attached to the handle controlling the arm L.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
I had not learned to question any emotion, and introspection troubled me no more than it did my pointer dog.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough

British Dictionary definitions for pointer

pointer

/ (ˈpɔɪntə) /

noun

a person or thing that points

an indicator on a measuring instrument

a long rod or cane used by a lecturer to point to parts of a map, blackboard, etc

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

a helpful piece of information or advice

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

pointer

OTHER WORDS FOR pointer

Origin of pointer

Words nearby pointer

Words related to pointer

How to use pointer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pointer