Pointers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of signals or hints that assist in focusing attention or understanding a topic
2. An assortment of suggestions or elements that support decision-making and comprehension
3. Signs or marks that guide or give clues ; advice or tips intended to help or guide someone ; tools or devices designed to indicate or direct attention towards something

Etymology: "Pointers" is the plural of "pointer," and the plural is where most of the meaning sits. The noun "pointer" is built from "point" plus the suffix "-er," which in this case turns a verb into a thing that does the pointing: a stick, a finger, or a needle that indicates something. Over time, a physical gadget that points at a target gave way to a more abstract sense of guidance, so that "pointers" now means hints or advice that point you toward doing something well. Some of the literal senses are still with us. A pointer can be a hand-held rod used by a teacher to direct attention to a chart, or the moving needle on a dial that shows a reading. Computing later added a sense of its own, where a pointer holds the memory address of another value.

Synonyms: indicators, signs, suggestions

Antonyms: misguides, confusers