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# pointer

«pointer» in Mova's school dictionary: **A stick, arrow or needle used to point at something, such…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 2 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

noun (a pointer, pointers)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A stick, arrow or needle used to point at something, such as on a dial, scale or clock. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#m1)

2) (informal) A useful tip or piece of advice. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#m2)

3) The arrow on a computer screen that you move with the mouse. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#m3)

4) A type of hunting dog. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#m4)

5) (computers) A value that tells where something is stored. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#m5)

### sense in the lessons

In maths and science: read where the pointer is on a scale or dial. In the classroom, a teacher may use a pointer on the board. In everyday talk: "Can you give me some pointers?" Phrases: laser pointer, pointers on.

### examples

- Read the scale where the pointer stops. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x1)
- The pointer on the scales showed 3 kilograms. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x2)
- Move the pointer to the icon and click. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x3)
- Can you give me a few pointers on my drawing? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x4)
- The teacher used a pointer to show the map. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x5)
- Never shine a laser pointer in anyone's eyes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x6)
- A pointer dog stands still and points at birds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/#x7)

### note

Countable. Safety: laser pointers can damage eyes. In a maths scale question, find what each small mark is worth before reading the pointer.

### In the corpora

- [Lasers can damage sight, so a laser pointer is never pointed at anyone's eyes.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/78-eyes-nose-and-the-toilet/5/)
- [A glass or pointer on a spirit board moves because of tiny movements people make without knowing it, called the ideomotor effect.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/myths/26-sleepovers-and-spooky-stories/11/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «pointer» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pointer/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.