Point is a word with many meanings, each useful in different situations.

When you make a point in conversation, you're expressing an idea or argument: “That's a good point” means someone said something worth considering. In sports, a point is a unit of score. Basketball teams earn points for making baskets, and tennis players win points during each game.

A point can also mean a specific moment or stage: the boiling point of water (when it turns to steam), or the point where you finally understood how fractions work. When someone asks “What's the point?” they're asking about purpose or reason: “What's the point of practicing piano if I'll never be perfect?” The answer might be that the point isn't perfection but improvement and enjoyment.

Point also describes a sharp end of something, like the point of a pencil or the point of a needle. A pointed remark is one that's sharp in a different way: direct and perhaps a bit cutting, like saying “I notice you didn't keep your promise” instead of being more gentle.

In math, a point is an exact location in space, usually shown as a dot. When giving directions, you might point (gesture with your finger) to show which way to go.

The phrase beside the point means something is irrelevant: if you're discussing whether to go swimming and someone mentions that they don't like the color of the pool tiles, that's beside the point.