plural of point
"The signalman carefully adjusted the points to divert the freight train onto the siding while it was still moving slowly."
Movable rails which can be used to switch a train from one railway track to another.
In plain English: Points are small marks used to score, count, or indicate specific locations on something.
"The judge awarded three points to the team for their excellent defense."
Usage: Do not use "points" to refer to railway switches in general American English, where the term "switches" or "turnouts" is standard; instead, reserve "points" for scoring systems, geometric angles, or specific British railway terminology. In everyday conversation, it most commonly denotes distinct items on a list or units of measurement rather than train infrastructure.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of point
"He points at the map to show us where we are going."
In plain English: To point means to direct your finger or something else toward a specific person, object, or direction.
"The arrow points north on the map."
Usage: Use "points" when describing something that directs attention toward a specific direction or target, such as a finger pointing at an object or a compass needle indicating north. Avoid using it to mean scoring or accumulating value unless the context clearly involves games or competitions.
An unincorporated community in West Virginia
"The old post office in Points, West Virginia, is now a local antique shop."
Derived from Old French poinz, points originally meant a thrust made with a sharp object or a spike. The term later evolved to signify any small, distinct part of something or a specific score in a game.