n. & v.
--n.
1. a short shaft or pin on which something turns or oscillates.
2 a crucial or essential person, point, etc., in a scheme or enterprise.
3 Mil. the man or men about whom a body of troops wheels.
--v. (pivoted, pivoting)
1. intr. turn on or as if on a pivot.
2 intr. (foll. by on, upon) hinge on; depend on.
3 tr. provide with or attach by a pivot.
Derivatives:
pivotable adj. pivotability n. pivotal adj.
Etymology: F, of uncert. orig.