# dot

/ˈdɑt/ (US) · /dˈɒt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dot
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a small spot

noun · CEFR A2

a very small, round mark or spot.

For teachers: a small, circular mark or point on a surface, often used in patterns or as a visual reference.

- The ladybug had several black dots on its red wings.
- From the airplane window, the cars on the highway looked like tiny, colourful dots moving slowly across the landscape.

### 2. computing and punctuation

noun · CEFR A2

the mark used to separate parts of a web address or the end of a sentence.

For teachers: a punctuation mark or separator used in orthography, mathematics, and digital addresses.

- You need to include a dot before 'com' in the web address.
- The developer explained that the configuration file must begin with a dot to remain hidden in the standard directory view.

### 3. Morse code

noun · CEFR B2

the short sound or signal used in Morse code.

For teachers: one of the two fundamental signals in Morse code, representing a shorter duration than a dash.

- The letter S is represented by three dots in Morse code.
- The radio operator struggled to distinguish the rapid dots from the background static during the emergency broadcast.

### 4. to mark with spots

verb · CEFR B1

to put small marks or spots on something.

For teachers: to mark or cover a surface with small, detached spots or points.

- She used a pen to dot the map with all the places she wanted to visit.
- The artist used a fine brush to dot the canvas with white paint, creating the illusion of a distant starry sky.

### 5. to be scattered across

verb · CEFR B2

to be spread across an area in small groups.

For teachers: to be distributed or scattered across an area or surface.

- Small wooden houses dot the hillside above the lake.
- Ancient ruins dot the Mediterranean coastline, serving as silent reminders of civilizations that flourished centuries ago.

## Examples

- The website address ends with dot com.
- Make sure you include every dot and dash when you type the complex password into the login screen.
- The artist spent hundreds of hours applying each individual dot of paint to the canvas to create a shimmering effect known as pointillism.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.