Meaning & use
dots
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“dots” is a form of “dot”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Small round marks or points, such as those in a pattern or on a surface.
Grammar: Plural of dot: a dress with polka dots.
Patterns
- dots on something
- dots of something
The fabric is white with tiny blue dots.
Join the dots to see what picture appears.
Small dots of light showed where the village lay.
nounplural
Points or full stops used in writing or in codes, as in an internet address or in Morse code.
Grammar: Plural of dot: dots and dashes in Morse code.
Patterns
- dots and dashes
Morse code is built from dots and dashes.
The address has two dots before the country code.
Three dots at the end of a sentence show something has been left out.
verbtransitive
Third person singular of dot: scatters small things over a surface, or marks with small points.
Grammar: Takes an object: she dots her i's carefully.
Patterns
- dot something with something
- dot something around
She dots the tops of the cookies with chocolate chips.
He always dots his i's with a tiny circle.
The chef dots the plate with sauce before serving.
Word forms
| singular | dot |
|---|---|
| past tense | dotted |
| -ing form | dotting |
Common combinations
- polka dots
- She wore a dress with red polka dots.
- join the dots
- Children join the dots to reveal a drawing.
- dots and dashes
- Telegraph operators once sent messages in dots and dashes.
- dots per inch
- The printer produces 600 dots per inch.
- dots of light
- We saw dots of light across the valley at night.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spots
- Spots are often bigger or less regular than dots and can also be stains or marks on skin.
- specks
- Specks are tiny and often unwanted, like specks of dust, while dots are usually deliberate.
- points
- Points is more mathematical or abstract, suggesting a location rather than a visible mark.
- dabs
- Dabs are small touches of something soft, like paint, rather than neat round marks.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: dots or dots vs. dotes?
dots vs dots vs. dotes
Dotes is a verb meaning to show too much love for someone, as in she dotes on her grandson.
Practice
She ___ her i's carefully in her handwriting.
Choose one answer.
Dots is the verb meaning to put a point above a letter. Dotes sounds the same but means to adore someone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dots”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.