fulcrum
/ˈfʊlkrəm
/ /ˈfʌlkrəm/noun (plural fulcrums or fulcra /ˈfʊlkrə/ /ˈfʌlkrə/)
1The point against which a lever is placed to get a purchase, or on which it turns or is supported.By rotating the dial, the pivot point or the fulcrum of the brake lever moves in and out....
- Gone are the levers and fulcrums and bearings and the substantial frame that once kept typewriters from shaking apart and made them a pretty fair murder weapon in the occasional detective story.
- The action of adduction along the frontal plane of the body will cause the arm to be moved in a curvilinear arc (the arm being a lever system with the fulcrum at the shoulder end).
1.1A thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation: research is the fulcrum of the academic community...
- Rediscovered and revitalized, the central space is the fulcrum of the scheme, its character changing with the various levels.
- The airy Atrium café is an ingenious use of ‘yard space’ and has become a fulcrum around which the centre rotates, serving affordable gourmet food cooked on the premises, prepared by top chefs.
- Yet they camped in the Tullow 22 for most of the closing ten minutes with Stephen Dalton making one good surge for the left corner and O'Brien the fulcrum of drives off penalties after that.
Origin
Late 17th century (originally in the general sense 'a prop or support'): from Latin, literally 'post of a couch', from fulcire 'to prop up'.