This is the 1994th most frequent Portuguese word.
apontar
"Apontar" means "to point out" or "to aim."
Here, 'apontar' means 'to sharpen', referring to making the pencil's tip ready for use.
Eu preciso apontar o lápis antes de começar a escrever.
I need to sharpen the pencil before starting to write.
In this sentence, 'apontar' is used in the sense of highlighting or indicating specific problems.
O professor pediu para apontar os problemas no relatório.
The teacher asked to point out the issues in the report.
This usage of 'apontar' denotes 'to bring up' or 'to mention' new ideas in a discussion context.