Meaning & use
pointy nose
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Meanings
nouncountable
A nose that comes to a narrow, sharp point at the tip.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or 'the' before it: a pointy nose, the pointy nose.
Patterns
- have a pointy nose
- with a pointy nose
The cartoon character has a long, pointy nose.
She inherited her pointy nose from her grandmother.
He drew a face with big eyes and a pointy nose.
nouncountablefigurative
A forward part of an object that is narrow and sharp, compared to a nose.
Grammar: Countable and figurative; often used for vehicles or tools.
Patterns
- the pointy nose of something
The boat had a pointy nose that cut through the waves.
The rocket's pointy nose is designed to reduce air resistance.
Word forms
| plural | pointy noses |
|---|
Common combinations
- a long pointy nose
- The witch in the story has a long pointy nose.
- a sharp pointy nose
- The fox has a sharp pointy nose for sniffing out food.
- with a pointy nose
- She drew a cat with a pointy nose and whiskers.
- a pointy nose and chin
- The old man had a pointy nose and chin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sharp nose
- Similar, but 'sharp' can also mean keen or sensitive, as in a sharp sense of smell.
- narrow nose
- More neutral and formal; it describes width, while 'pointy' describes the pointed tip.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: pointy nose or pointed nose?
pointy nose vs pointed nose
'Pointed nose' is very similar, but it can also mean a nose that has been aimed or directed at something; 'pointy' usually describes a permanent shape.
Practice
Which sentence describes a nose that comes to a sharp tip?
Choose one answer.
'Pointy nose' describes the shape of a nose with a sharp tip. 'Broken,' 'runny,' and 'stuffy' describe conditions or health, not shape.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pointy nose”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.