hinge

[hinj]

noun

1. a jointed device or flexible piece on which a door, gate, shutter, lid, or other attached part turns, swings, or moves.

2. a natural anatomical joint at which motion occurs around a transverse axis, as that of the knee or a bivalve shell.

3. that on which something is based or depends; pivotal consideration or factor.

4. Also called mount. Philately.,  a gummed sticker for affixing a stamp to a page of an album, so folded as to form a hinge, allowing the stamp to be raised to reveal the text beneath.

verb (used without object)

hinged, hinging 

1. to be dependent or contingent on, or as if on, a hinge (usually followed by on orupon ).

   Everything hinges on his decision.

   Synonyms: depend, pivot, swing, rest

verb (used with object)

hinged, hinging 

1. to furnish with or attach by a hinge or hinges.

2. to attach as if by a hinge.

3. to make or consider as dependent upon; predicate.

   He hinged his action on future sales.

hinge

/ hɪndʒ /

noun

1. a device for holding together two parts such that one can swing relative to the other, typically having two interlocking metal leaves held by a pin about which they pivot

2. Technical name: ginglymus. anatomy a type of joint, such as the knee joint, that moves only backwards and forwards; a joint that functions in only one plane

3. a similar structure in invertebrate animals, such as the joint between the two halves of a bivalve shell

4. something on which events, opinions, etc, turn

5. Also called: mount. philately a small thin transparent strip of gummed paper for affixing a stamp to a page

verb

1. (tr) to attach or fit a hinge to (something)

2. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to depend (on)

3. (intr) to hang or turn on or as if on a hinge

Other Word Forms

• hingeless adjective
• hinged adjective
• hingelike adjective
• rehinge verb (used with object)
• well-hinged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hinge¹

1250–1300; Middle English henge; cognate with Low German heng ( e ), Middle Dutch henge hinge; akin to hang

Word History and Origins

Origin of hinge¹

C13: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch henge; see _hang

Example Sentences

This intervention, which was supposed to stabilise the economy in Argentina, now seemed to hinge on Milei securing more political support.

Read more on BBC

Petersen said a tariff rate can also hinge on factors such as a containership’s departure or arrival date.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The BOE’s next interest-rate decision could hinge on the performance of the labor market, though investors expect the central bank to stand pat when it meets early next month.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Her sales pitch hinges on the heartthrob protagonist: “He’s like a hot conspiracy theorist. If there even is such a thing.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The experts' key argument hinges on the potential of Ayvalık as a dynamic site for interaction and exchange, facilitating early human movement between the Anatolia peninsula and Europe.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• depend 
• revolve around www.thesaurus.com