pivot









pivot


noun

  1. a pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.
  2. the 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. 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. Basketball.
    1. 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.
    2. Also called pivotman.the player who plays in the pivot position.
  8. Dentistry. (formerly) dowel(def 4).

verb (used without object)

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

verb (used with object)

  1. to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.

noun

  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

verb

  1. (tr) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots
  2. (intr) to turn on or as if on a pivot

n.1610s, from French pivot, from Old French pivot “hinge pin, pivot” (12c.), also “penis,” of uncertain origin. Figurative sense of “central point” is recorded from 1813. v.by 1841, from French pivoter and from pivot (n). Related: Pivoted; pivoting.

68 queries 0.565