/ ˈpɪvət; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
the central point, pin or column on which sth turns or balances
2.
the central or most important person or thing :
West Africa was the pivot of the cocoa trade.
The pivot on which the old system turned had disappeared.
■ verb
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to turn or balance on a central point (= a pivot ) ; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
Windows that pivot from a central point are easy to clean.
She pivoted around and walked out.
[also vn ]
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- pivot on / around sth
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French , probably from the root of dialect pue tooth of a comb and Spanish pu(y)a point. The verb dates from the mid 19th cent.