cruxcrux /krʌks/ noun 
The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again? The crux of the problem lay in the lack of equipment.
WORD ORIGINcrux
Origin:
1600-1700 Latin ➔ CROSS2EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Finding a cheap source of energy is really the crux of the matter.
- The crux of the court case is whether consumers deserve a refund.
- Whether we can get funding or not is the crux.
- He didn't much care; that was the crux of the matter.
- In the first place, v. 21b is a notorious crux of interpretation.
- The crux of the matter is that attitudes on the character and scope of planning have changed.
- The women kicked off on fairly straight forward F7a, but the last move was the crux.
Longman Language Activatorthe main part of a problem, idea, or belief
the most important part of a difficult problem, a question, or an argument etc that must be dealt with or understood before any further progress can be made: · Whether we can get funding or not is the crux.the crux of the matter/problem/question etc: · Finding a cheap source of energy is really the crux of the matter.· The crux of the court case is whether consumers deserve a refund.
the main feature or quality that gives something its own special character: the essence of something: · Equality is the essence of democracy.· The essence of his teachings can be summed up in the phrase "Know yourself."
the most important part of a problem, consideration, question etc: the heart of the matter/problem/question etc: · Let's stop talking about irrelevant issues, and get to the heart of the matter.lie at the heart of something: · Money always lies at the heart of our fights.go/get to the heart of something: · This new book gets to the heart of the controversy over nuclear power.
the main part of an idea, belief, way of thinking etc, that everything else depends on: the core of something: · The core of the play's appeal is that the good guys win in the end.to the core of something: · She had the ability to cut through to the core of a problem.at the core of something: · The profit motive is at the core of the capitalist system.
the main fact about a situation, that must be accepted and cannot be changed or avoided: · Most people want to work in a place where they feel valued. That's the bottom line.the bottom line is: · The bottom line is, he's gone and he's not coming back.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again? The crux of the problem lay in the lack of equipment.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again? The crux of the problem lay in the lack of equipment. (=the most important part of something)· The crux of the matter is: how do we prevent these floods from happening again?
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
the crux the most important part of a problem, question, argument etccrux of- It's the relationship between Trevor and Meriwether that forms the crux of this movie.
The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again? The crux of the problem lay in the lack of equipment.