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   pivot

   /ˈpɪvət/

   noun

   • 1. the central point, pin, or shaft on which a mechanism turns or oscillates. Similar central shaftfulcrumaxisaxleswivelpinhubspindlehingepintlekingpingudgeontrunnion
   • ▪ a person or thing that plays a central part in a situation or enterprise: "the pivot of community life was the chapel" Similar centrefocal pointfocuscentral pointhubheartnucleusraison d'êtrecruxkeystonecornerstonelinchpinkingpin
   • ▪ the person or position from which a body of troops takes its reference point when moving or changing course.
   • ▪ a player in a central position in a team sport.
   • ▪ a movement in which the player holding the ball may move in any direction with one foot, while keeping the other (the pivot foot) in contact with the floor.

   verb

   • 1. turn on or as if on a pivot: "the sail pivots around the axis of the mast" Similar rotateturnrevolvespinswiveltwirlwhirlwheeloscillate
   • ▪ provide (a mechanism) with a pivot; fix (a mechanism) on a pivot.
   • ▪ depend on: "the government's reaction pivoted on the response of the Prime Minister" Similar dependhingeturncentrehangrelyrestbe contingentrevolve around
   • 2. (especially in a business context) completely change the way in which one does something: "the teams performed exceptionally by quickly pivoting to meet the increased demand from our customers"
   • ▪ begin to run or manage (something) in a completely different way: "practice creativity in pivoting your business from its current platforms to new ways of service deliveries"

   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 century.

   Derivatives

   • 1. pivotability noun
   • 2. pivotable adjective

   Scrabble Points: 10

   • P

     3

   • I

     1

   • V

     4

   • O

     1

   • T

     1

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