dot

dot¹ S2 [dɔt US da:t] n

[: Old English; Origin: dott 'top of a spot on the skin']

1.) a small round mark or spot

▪ a pattern of dots on the screen

2.) on the dot informal

exactly on time or at a particular time

▪ I'll be there on the dot.

at three o'clock/seven thirty etc on the dot

(=at exactly 3:00/7:30 etc)

▪ Mr Green arrived at six on the dot .

3.) something that looks like a small spot because it is so far away

▪ The plane was just a dot on the horizon .

4.) a short sound or flash of light used when sending messages by ↑Morse code

→↑dash

→the year dot at ↑year

dot ²

dot² past tense and past participle dotted present participle dotting

v [T]

1.) to mark something by putting a dot on it or above it

▪ She never dots her i's.

2.) [usually passive]

if an area is dotted with things, there are a lot of them there but they are spread far apart

be dotted with sth

▪ The lake was dotted with sailboats.

be dotted about/around etc sth

▪ The company has over 20 stores dotted around the country.

▪ Brilliant red poppies dotted the field.

3.) to put a very small amount of something on a surface, especially in several places

dot sth with sth

▪ Dot the apples with butter.

4.) dot the i's and cross the t's informal

to pay careful attention to all the details when you are finishing something