From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpointepointe, pointes /pwænt $ pwɑːnt/ noun [uncountable] if ballet dancers are on pointe, they are dancing on the ends of their toes with their feet in a vertical position
Examples from the Corpus
pointe• Jerkily she rose en pointe on one wooden leg and twisted round in a pirouette.• She reasoned that if kicking dancers were so popular with audiences, the sight of kicking on pointe would astound them.• Elaine Fifield did not always keep her feet fully pointed nor knees stretched, even when on pointe.• She then places her hand in his and with his help gradually rises on to pointe until she poses triumphantly in attitude. 