Standard Lemma guide

pinpoint

adj · noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈpɪnpɔɪnt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: P IH1 N P OY2 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Extremely precise or specific, especially regarding location.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The machine assembles parts at high speed and with pinpoint accuracy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The point of a pin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something infinitesimal; a tiny point.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To identify or locate (someone or something) precisely or with great accuracy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The investigators tried to pinpoint the source of the flames.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the sharp point of a pin

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: point

6

noun

Meaning 6

a very small spot

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the plane was just a speck in the sky

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: speck

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: spot, speckle, dapple, patch, fleck, maculation

7

noun

Meaning 7

a very brief moment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they were strangers sharing a pinpoint of time together

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: moment, minute, second, instant

8

verb

Meaning 8

locate exactly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • can you pinpoint the position of the enemy?
  • The chemists could not nail the identity of the chromosome

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nail

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: locate, turn up

History

Etymology

From pin + point.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: прецизен (precizen) — extremely precise
  • Bulgarian: с голяма точност (s goljama točnost) — extremely precise
  • Finnish: erittäin tarkka — extremely precise
  • Finnish: erittäin täsmällinen — extremely precise
  • Indonesian: tepat — extremely precise
  • Bulgarian: връх на карфица (vrǎh na karfica) — point of a pin
  • Catalan: punxa d'agulla — point of a pin
  • Finnish: nuppineulan kärki — point of a pin
  • Finnish: neulan kärki — point of a pin
  • German: Nadelspitze — point of a pin
  • German: Pinspitze — point of a pin
  • Catalan: especificar — locate precisely
  • Czech: vymezit — locate precisely
  • Danish: fastslå — locate precisely
  • Finnish: määrittää tarkemmin — locate precisely
  • Finnish: paikantaa — locate precisely
  • French: localiser — locate precisely
  • French: identifier — locate precisely
  • German: genau verorten — locate precisely
  • German: ausmitteln — locate precisely
  • Greek: εντοπίζω (entopízo) — locate precisely
  • Indonesian: menunjuk secara tepat — locate precisely