pivot
a pin, point, or short shaft on the end of which something rests and turns, or upon and about which something rotates or oscillates.
the end of a shaft or arbor, resting and turning in a bearing.
any thing or person on which something or someone functions or depends vitally: He is the pivot of my life.
the person in a line, as of troops on parade, whom the others use as a point about which to wheel or maneuver.
a whirling about on one foot.
a change in policy, opinion, product design, etc., that retains some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience:a pivot in public policy;the administration’s pivot toward Asia; multiple product pivots to reach new consumers.
Basketball. the act of keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction, so as not to be charged with traveling.
Basketball.
an offensive position in the front court, usually played by the center, in which the player stands facing away from the offensive basket and serves as the pivot of the offense by setting up plays through passing, making screens, and taking shots.
Also called pivotman. the player who plays in the pivot position.
Dentistry. (formerly) dowel (def. 4).
to turn on or as on a pivot.
Basketball. to keep one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot one step in any direction.
to modify a policy, opinion, product, etc., while retaining some continuity with its previous version, especially as part of a strategy to appeal to a different audience:The candidate will need to pivot on her unpopular position regarding prescription drug pricing.The studio pivoted away from gritty realism to make the film’s sequel more family-friendly.
to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.
to modify (a policy, opinion, product, etc.) while retaining some continuity with its previous version:The start-up was able to pivot the app to a new market without losing too many man-hours of coding.
Origin of pivot
1Words Nearby pivot
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pivot in a sentence
Albright co-founded Tenderfoot TV —named before its pivot to audio — with filmmaker Payne Lindsey in 2016.
‘We have to grow this responsibly’: Tenderfoot TV co-founder Donald Albright on the podcasting’s bright (but consolidated) future | Pierre Bienaimé | August 25, 2020 | DigidayElection officials here believe other states can do similar pivots so they can offer voting by mail — noting that all states already have absentee voting in some form.
As states mull expanding vote by mail, they’re turning to Oregon for advice | Lee Clifford | August 24, 2020 | FortuneUtilising event schema markup, your business can make the pivot towards more online events, whilst standing above the competition in the SERPs through rich results.
“We operated from a place of holding students harmless for the abrupt pivot, which led us to credit-no credit grading, which in turn created voluntary learning experiences, leading us to focus on engagement and outreach in the fall,” Lawrence said.
North County Report: School Reopening Tensions Are High in Oceanside | Kayla Jimenez | July 22, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoIn my work, along with many others, we find that race, gender, immigrant status, group identity in general is not something on the periphery, but is a pillar, is a pivot to how we understand political economy.
Should America (and FIFA) Pay Reparations? (Ep. 426) | Stephen J. Dubner | July 16, 2020 | Freakonomics
The political pivot comes when they realize that there could be a world without Hunger Games at all.
As long as Democrats don't mention the clunky word "infrastructure" too much, they should pivot hard to jobs.
Once, a center was called a “pivot man,” with good and clear reason.
But his greatest gifts remain in the classic pivot—close in with his back to the basket.
Paul has generated positive headlines with a pivot away from party orthodoxy in recent months.
Pulling the horse on his haunches, and swinging him round at the same moment as if on a pivot, he made a bound to the left.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneA circular revolving platform rests on the pivot and rollers.
The bridge is carried on a circular base plate with a central pivot and a circular track for a live ring and conical rollers.
To this cylinder the door was mortised, their combined weight coming upon the lower pivot.
The Private Life of the Romans | Harold Whetstone JohnstonHooker had swung the army up to Fairfax and Centreville, moving on an inner circle, with Washington for a pivot.
The Boys of '61 | Charles Carleton Coffin.
British Dictionary definitions for pivot
/ (ˈpɪvət) /
a short shaft or pin supporting something that turns; fulcrum
the end of a shaft or arbor that terminates in a bearing
a person or thing upon which progress, success, etc, depends
the person or position from which a military formation takes its reference, as when altering position
(tr) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots
(intr) to turn on or as if on a pivot
Origin of pivot
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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