1. (n.) A fixed pin or short axis, on the end of which a wheel or other body turns.

2. (n.) The end of a shaft or arbor which rests and turns in a support; as, the pivot of an arbor in a watch.

3. (n.) Hence, figuratively: A turning point or condition; that on which important results depend; as, the pivot of an enterprise.

4. (n.) The officer or soldier who simply turns in his place while the company or line moves around him in wheeling; -- called also pivot man.

5. (v. t.) To place on a pivot.

ankle arbor articulation avert axis axle axle bar axle shaft axle spindle axle-tree bearing bench mark boundary butt cardinal point center center of action center of gravity centroid centrum cervix chief thing circle circulate circumrotate circumvolute climax clinch closure come about connecting link connecting rod connection core cornerstone coupling crank crisis critical point crux dead center deflect depend distaff divert dovetail elbow embrace epicenter essence essential essential matter fetch about focal point fulcrum fundamental gimbal gist gliding joint go about go around go round gravamen great point gudgeon gyrate gyre hang heart heel high point hinge hinged joint hingle hip hub important thing interface issue join joining joint juncture kernel keystone kingpin knee knuckle landmark link main point main thing mandrel marrow material point meat medulla metacenter middle milestone miter mortise nave navel neck nub nucleus oarlock omphalos pin pintle pirouette pith pivot about pivot joint pole put about rabbet radiant real issue rely rest resting point revolve rotate round rowlock salient point scarf screw seam sheer shoulder sine qua non spin spindle stitch storm center substance substantive point suture swing swing round swivel symphysis the bottom line the point thole tholepin tie rod toggle toggle joint trunnion turn turn a pirouette turn about turn around turn round turn tail turning point twirl twist umbilicus union veer veer around volte-face wamble weld wheel wheel about whip whirl wind wrist