punctum
/ˈpʌŋktəm/
noun
- A small, distinct point or dot, especially in writing, printing, or a visual field.
- In the diagram, each punctum represents a single data point.
- She noticed a tiny punctum on the photograph that drew her eye.
- The ancient manuscript had a punctum above the letter to indicate a pause.
- In photography and visual studies, a detail in an image that personally and emotionally affects the viewer, often unexpectedly.
- For the critic, the child's torn shoe in the war photo was the punctum that made the image unforgettable.
- The punctum of the portrait was the subject's slight, sad smile.
- When looking at the old family album, the punctum for me was the faded ribbon in my grandmother's hair.
- In anatomy, a small opening or point, such as the lacrimal punctum (the tiny hole in the eyelid that drains tears).
- A swollen punctum can cause watery eyes.
- Each eyelid has a punctum that helps channel tears into the nasal cavity.
- The doctor examined the patient's lacrimal punctum to check for blockage.