dot

dot

I

dot¹ S2 /dɒt $ dɑːt/ noun [countable]1. a small round mark or spot:
    a pattern of dots
2. on the dot informal exactly on time or at a particular time:
    I’ll be there on the dot.
    at three o'clock/seven thirty etc on the dot (=at exactly 3:00/7:30 etc)
    Mr Green arrived at six on the dot.
3. something that looks like a small spot because it is so far away:
    The plane was just a dot on the horizon.
4. a short sound or flash of light used when sending messages by Morse code ⇨ dash
⇨ the year dot at year(13)

II

dot² verb (past tense and past participle dotted, present participle dotting) [transitive]
1. to mark something by putting a dot on it or above it:
    She never dots her i’s.
2. [usually passive] if an area is dotted with things, there are a lot of them there but they are spread far apart
    be dotted with something
    The lake was dotted with sailboats.
    be dotted about/around etc something
    The company has over 20 stores dotted around the country.
    Poppies dotted the field.
3. to put a very small amount of something on a surface, especially in several places
    dot something with something
    Dot the apples with butter.
4. dot the i’s and cross the t’s informal to pay careful attention to all the details when you are finishing something