Pointer

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔɪntÉ™(ɹ)

Origin

point + -er.

Full definition of pointer

Noun

1. Anything that points or is used for pointing.
2. A needle-like component of a timepiece or measuring device that indicates the time or the current reading of the device.
3. A breed of hunting dog.
4. (programming) A variable that holds the address of a memory location where a value can be stored.
5. (computing) An icon that indicates the position of the mouse; a cursor.
6. A tip, a bit of advice (usually plural.)The instructor gave me some pointers on writing a good paper.
7. (in combinations) Something worth a given number of points.a ten-pointer
• 2011, September 18, Ben Dirs, Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia, After another penalty miss, Kvirikashvili finally found the target on 27 minutes before Flood hit back with a three-pointer of his own.

Synonyms

• (teacher's pointer) fescue
• (of a timepiece) hand
• (of a measuring device) needle
• (icon) mouse pointer
• (programming) reference

Derived terms

• null pointer
• white pointer
• dangling pointer

Anagrams

• interop, protein, pterion, repoint, tropein, tropine