designate vs point

designate is not a noun while point is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
designate	No	Yes	Yes	No
point	Yes	No	Yes	No

As verbs, designate and point are synonyms defined as:

designate and point: indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively

Other synonyms of designate include indicate, show.

As verbs, point is a hyponym of designate; that is, point is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than designate:

designate: indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
point: indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle

Other hyponyms of designate include finger, call attention, point out, signalise, signalize, reflect.

designate (noun)	point (noun)
	sharp end
	a wall socket
	the gun muzzle's direction
	a contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts them and current flows to the spark plugs
	the property of a shape that tapers to a sharp tip
	an outstanding characteristic
	a distinguishing or individuating characteristic
	a geometric element that has position but no extension
	an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole
	the object of an activity
	a punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations
	a brief version of the essential meaning of something
	a V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer
	a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list
	the dot at the left of a decimal fraction
	the precise location of something; a spatially limited location
	a promontory extending out into a large body of water
	one percent of the total principal of a loan; it is paid at the time the loan is made and is independent of the interest on the loan
	a linear unit used to measure the size of type; approximately 1/72 inch
	the unit of counting in scoring a game or contest
	any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass
	a style in speech or writing that arrests attention and has a penetrating or convincing quality or effect
	a V shape
	a very small circular shape
	a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process
	an instant of time

designate (adjective)	point (adjective)
appointed but not yet installed in office

designate (verb)	point (verb)
design or destine	give a point to
assign a name or title to	repair the joints of bricks
decree or designate beforehand	indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively	indicate the presence of (game) by standing and pointing with the muzzle
give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)	be a signal for or a symptom of
	direct into a position for use
	be positionable in a specified manner
	intend (something) to move towards a certain goal
	mark with diacritics
	mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes
	mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics
	direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
	sail close to the wind
	be oriented