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⇱ pivot - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pivot

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɪvət/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpɪvət/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(piv′ət)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
piv•ot /ˈpɪvət/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Mechanical Engineeringa pin, point, or short shaft supporting something that rests and turns, or allowing something to spin around on it:a pivot on a gear mechanism.
  2. a person or thing on which something else turns or depends:She was the pivot of the campaign's success.
  3. a whirling around on one foot:The soldier made a smart, sharp pivot.

v. 
  1. to turn on or as if on a pivot:[no object]He pivoted on his heel and left the room.
  2. pivot on, [~ + on + object] to depend or hinge or be based on, as for success:The whole election campaign pivots on a few important states.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
piv•ot  (piv′ət),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Mechanical Engineeringa pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.
  2. Mechanical Engineeringthe end of a shaft or arbor, resting and turning in a bearing.
  3. any thing or person on which something or someone functions or depends vitally:He is the pivot of my life.
  4. the person in a line, as of troops on parade, whom the others use as a point about which to wheel or maneuver.
  5. a whirling about on one foot.
  6. Sport[Basketball.]the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with walking.
  7. Sport[Basketball.]
    • an offensive position in the front court, usually played by the center, in which the player stands facing away from the offensive basket and serves as the pivot of the offense by setting up plays through passing, making screens, and taking shots.
    • Also called pivotman. the player who plays in the pivot position.
  8. Dentistry(formerly) dowel (def. 4).

v.i. 
  1. to turn on or as on a pivot.
  2. Sport[Basketball.]to keep one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction.

v.t. 
  1. to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.
  • ?
  • French pivot (noun, nominal), pivoter (verb, verbal), Old French
  • 1605–15

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pivot /ˈpɪvət/ n
  1. a short shaft or pin supporting something that turns; fulcrum
  2. the end of a shaft or arbor that terminates in a bearing
  3. a person or thing upon which progress, success, etc, depends
  4. the person or position from which a military formation takes its reference, as when altering position
 vb
  1. (transitive) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots
  2. (intransitive) to turn on or as if on a pivot
  3. (intransitive) to effect a transition from one strategy or technique to another
  4. (intransitive; usually followed by on) to depend (on)
Etymology: 17th Century: from Old French; perhaps related to Old Provençal pua tooth of a comb
'pivot' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: the pivot point, the [party's, president's] strategic pivot, the team plays with two pivots, more...

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