I. ˈpivət, usu -əd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from Old French, from an assumed word akin to Old Provençal pua tooth of a flax comb, from (assumed) Vulgar Latin puga, perhaps from Latin pungere to prick — more at pungent
1.
a. : a usually short shaft or pin whose pointed end forms the fulcrum and center on which something turns about, oscillates, or balances:
(1) : the pin of a hinge
(2) : an axle on which a wheel turns
(3) : the shaft on which the hands of a timepiece turn
(4) : the pin on which a pointer (as of a compass) is balanced and turns
b.
(1) : the pointed end of such a shaft or pin
(2) : a real or apparent point or position on which something turns about, oscillates, or balances
c. : a usually metallic pin holding an artificial crown to the root of a tooth
2. : something that has an important role, position, or influence : something on which the activity, development, or course of something else depends or to which it is closely linked : a central or indispensable individual, element, or factor : something having a major or central role, function, or effect: as
a.
(1) : the man or group of men around whom a body of troops wheels (as in changing front or direction or making a tactical maneuver)
(2) : a key player or position (as on a football team)
(3) : an individual on whom the condition or future of something depends
elected a man that proved to be the pivot of the organization's success
as if the pivot and pole of his life … was his mother — D.H.Lawrence
b. : an essential or vital component part (as of a piece of machinery)
c. : a central or crucial fact or condition about which a whole series of consequences revolves : central point : heart , crux
the pivot of the matter is whether they will or will not agree
the pivot of the controversy — J.A.Todd
d. : a central point of attraction or interest
public occasions when he himself is the pivot of attention — Stewart Cockburn
3. : the action of turning about, oscillating, or balancing on or as if on a pivot: as
a. : the turn of the body from left to right on the backswing and from right to left on the downswing in hitting a golf ball
b. : the action in the game of basketball of stepping once or more than once in any direction with the same foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor
c. : a dance step in which the dancer rotates on one foot and completes the step by shifting the weight to the other foot
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: French pivoter, from pivot
intransitive verb
1. : to turn about or oscillate or balance on or as if on a pivot
the guns are mounted in such a way as to pivot easily
the future pivots on what is done today
2. : to change card partners at fixed intervals so as to have each player as a partner at some time during a partnership game
transitive verb
1. : to provide with, mount on, or attach by means of a pivot
a pivoted mechanism
2. : to cause to pivot
pivot himself sharply about on his heel
pivoting their life on some such particular motive — D.J.Unger
III. adjective
Etymology: pivot (I)
1. : turning on or as if on a pivot
a pivot gun
: equipped with a pivot
pivot gearing
2. : pivotal
a pivot figure in the controversy
a pivot man on a football team
IV. noun
: an offensive player position in basketball that is occupied by a player (as a center) who usually faces away from the basket to relay passes, shoot, or provide a screen for teammates