ˈend-point
[f. end n. + point n.1]
The end or latter part of a period, process, etc.
1. spec. in Chem., etc. The point in a titration, or the stage of a process of dilution, at which a definite effect is observable.
| 1899 Henderson & Parker Introd. Anal. Chem. 114 The exact point at which neutralization takes place (‘the end point’) is determined by means of an indicator. 1919 Chemist & Druggist XCI. 243 The solution is very slowly decolorised at first... The end point was taken as the faintest visibly pink tint, permanent for one minute. 1946 Nature 19 Oct. 556/2 The concentration of chloride in the blood of agouti and black mice has been investigated..but with only 0.22 c.c. of serum the end-point is not certain. 1956 Ibid. 18 Feb. 303/2 Tobacco seedlings show systemic symptoms sooner when inoculated with tobacco sap diluted almost to the infection end-point than when they are inoculated with undiluted sap from infected Prince beans. 1961 Lancet 29 July 228/1 In the tube dilution methods the end-point was taken as the last tube showing visible growth after 48 hours incubation at 35–37°C. 1963 Ibid. 5 Jan. 52/2 ‘Total acid’ meant titratable acidity to an end-point about pH 8–10 (phenolphthalein). |
2. transf. and fig.
| 1921 E. Sapir Language (1922) v. 115 The starting-point and end-point of the flow of activity. 1927 L. Clendening Human Body iv. 109 (caption) An air sac. The end point of a lung branch. 1959 J. C. Catford in Quirk & Smith Teaching of English vi. 183 The variations in the vertical dimension..represent..different types of end-point, or ‘second term’, for the relations represented. 1965 W. S. Allen Vox Latina ii. 60 Scaurus..who comments on the current end-point of the dipthong as e rather than i. |