pivot

noun

/ˈpɪvət/

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the central point, pin or column on which something turns or balances
the central or most important person or thing
- West Africa was the pivot of the cocoa trade.
- The pivot on which the old system turned had disappeared.
- She is the pivot of community life.

Word Originlate 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 cent.

pivot

verb

/ˈpɪvət/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they pivot	/ˈpɪvət/ /ˈpɪvət/
he / she / it pivots	/ˈpɪvəts/ /ˈpɪvəts/
past simple pivoted	/ˈpɪvətɪd/ /ˈpɪvətɪd/
past participle pivoted	/ˈpɪvətɪd/ /ˈpɪvətɪd/
-ing form pivoting	/ˈpɪvətɪŋ/ /ˈpɪvətɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] pivot (something) (+ adv./prep.) to turn or balance on a central point (= a pivot); to make something do this
- Windows that pivot from a central point are easy to clean.
- She pivoted around and walked out.
Extra Examples
- He pivoted on one foot and threw the ball to Gary.
- The mechanism pivots around a central point.
[intransitive] (business) to change direction; to change the way in which something is done
- pivot (to/towards something) (away from something) The company is pivoting towards mobile and away from social media.
- pivot towards doing something We are pivoting towards delivering all of our software as a service.

Word Originlate 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 cent.