e/Dot (Unix)

Information
has gloss	eng: . called the dot command is used to execute its first argument, a file. Its possible to specify arguments in a second argument. The first argument file does not have to be executable, but must be accessible via a directory defined in the PATH environment variable. The dot command is often used to define environment variables that are accessible within the current process. In contrast to file executed directly as an executable, there wont be a new process opened and the environment definitions defined within apply to the current process or the current shell. The 'dot command should not be confused with the dot file.
lexicalization	eng: dot
instance of	c/Standard Unix programs