centerpiece

[ sen-ter-pees ]

/ ˈsɛn tərˌpis /

an ornamental object used in a central position, especially on the center of a dining-room table.

the central or outstanding point or feature: The centerpiece of the evening was a play put on by the employees.

RELATED WORDS

First recorded in 1830–40; center + piece

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

And, just like Katniss, we need rules that make solidarity a centerpiece of shared life, not a desperate act of rebellion.
The Hunger Games Economy|Jedediah Purdy|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Walters's battle to put her abusive husband behind bars is the centerpiece of Cynthia Hill's documentary.
The Worst Question for Abuse Victims|Emily Shire|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
American airpower will be the centerpiece of U.S. direct action against the so-called Islamic State.
Who the U.S. Should Really Hit in ISIS|Daniel Trombly, Yasir Abbas|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Lee Fang recounted at The Nation, Obama made them a centerpiece of his campaign.
Lobbyist Derangement Syndrome Sweeps DC|James Poulos|August 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Because it is at the heart of the war, ending the FDLR must be a centerpiece of the peace process.
Obama’s Africa Summit and the New Danger in Congo|Sasha Lezhnev, John Prendergast|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A little later the table was laid with a bunch of roses, which Ruth had received anonymously, to serve as the centerpiece.
The Ranch Girls in Europe|Margaret Vandercook
It was large enough to form the centerpiece of some stately necklace or tiara.
The Message|Louis Tracy
The location of the crosspieces on the centerpiece A is shown in the sketch, the front piece B being 1-3/4 in.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
The centerpiece is a large basket filled with tulips of different colors.
Breakfasts and Teas|Paul Pierce
Reemployment, not unemployment, must become the centerpiece of our economic renewal.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various

also center-piece, 1800, from center + piece (n.). Figurative sense is recorded from 1937.