# pointer

/ˈpɔɪntɝ/ (US) · /pˈɔɪntɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pointer
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. a tip or advice

noun · CEFR B1

a helpful piece of advice or a suggestion on how to do something better.

For teachers: a useful hint, tip, or piece of practical advice. Often used in the plural.

- The teacher gave me a few pointers on how to improve my essay.
- The veteran journalist offered several pointers to the interns regarding how to conduct themselves during high-pressure interviews.

Usage: Commonly used in the plural form 'pointers' when referring to advice.

### 2. computer cursor

noun · CEFR A2

the arrow or icon on a computer screen that moves when you move the mouse.

For teachers: a movable symbol on a computer screen that indicates the position of the mouse or other pointing device.

- Move the pointer to the top of the screen to see the menu.
- The user interface was designed so that the pointer changes shape when hovering over a clickable hyperlink.

### 3. physical indicator

noun · CEFR B1

a long stick or a tool used to show people where to look on a map or board.

For teachers: a physical object, such as a rod or a laser, used to indicate or direct attention toward a specific location.

- The lecturer used a laser pointer to highlight the data on the slide.
- The guide used a wooden pointer to trace the ancient trade routes on the large wall map.

### 4. programming variable

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a special piece of data in a computer program that tells the computer where to find information in its memory.

For teachers: a variable that stores the memory address of another value rather than the value itself.

- The program crashed because the pointer was looking at the wrong part of the memory.
- Efficient memory management in C requires a deep understanding of how to manipulate pointers without causing leaks or segmentation faults.

Usage: Used as a countable noun in technical contexts.

### 5. breed of dog

noun · CEFR B2

a type of large hunting dog that stands still and points its nose toward birds or animals.

For teachers: any of several breeds of hunting dogs that instinctively stand in a rigid pose when they scent game.

- The hunter's pointer froze as soon as it smelled a bird in the tall grass.
- The German Shorthaired Pointer is prized by sportsmen for its versatility in both pointing and retrieving game in various terrains.

## Examples

- The function uses a pointer to access the original data.
- By passing a pointer to the large data structure instead of copying it, the program runs significantly faster.
- In low-level languages like C, a null pointer indicates that the variable does not currently reference a valid memory location, which can lead to runtime errors if not properly checked.

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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.