pointing

n. the mortar or cement used to fill the spaces between bricks in a wall.

n. the finishing of joints in brickwork or masonry by filling them with mortar to protect against weather.

“The old house needs new pointing because the rain is getting between the bricks.”

“The restoration project required specialist pointing to ensure the new mortar matched the historical lime-based composition of the original structure.”

Technical

n. a way of measuring a block of stone to help carve a statue.

n. the process of measuring distances from the surface of a block of marble to guide the carving of a statue from a model.

“The sculptor used pointing to make sure the stone figure looked exactly like his clay model.”

“Traditional pointing techniques allow a master carver to transfer precise dimensions from a plaster cast to a raw block of Carrara marble.”

Technical

n. marks used in church music to show which words go with which notes.

n. the marks or signs used in Anglican chant to indicate how the rhythm of the text should be fitted to the music.

“The choir followed the pointing in their books to sing the psalm correctly.”

“The choirmaster insisted on strict adherence to the pointing to ensure the natural speech rhythms of the liturgy were preserved during the chant.”

Technical