dot

  • noun 1 a small round mark or spot. 2 Music a dot used to denote the lengthening of a note or rest by half, or to indicate staccato. 3 the shorter signal of the two used in Morse code.

  • verb (dotted, dotting) 1 mark with a dot or dots. 2 scatter over (an area).

  — PHRASES dot the i’s and cross the t’s informal ensure that all details are correct. on the dot informal exactly on time. the year dot Brit. informal a very long time ago.

  — ORIGIN Old English, head of a boil.

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