pivot
[piv-uh t]
- 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.
- 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 walking.
- 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).
Show More
- 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.
Show More
- to mount on, attach by, or provide with a pivot or pivots.
Show More
Origin of pivot
1605–15; < French pivot (noun), pivoter (v.), Old French < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for pivoted
Contemporary Examples
The last time America pivoted to Asia was on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor.
Gogglebox, which is an hour-long, is pivoted on the newsiest British television of the week, and edited right up to broadcast.
She pivoted to slam the "lame stream media," hitting the "sock puppets" on "MS-LSD" for their biased coverage.
She did acknowledge that, um, Obama won the election in November, but then pivoted to a lame teleprompter joke.
Paul pivoted off his filibuster by reprising its theme: “My question was whether presidential power has limits.”
Historical Examples
Round behind Teutoberg he pivoted—a wrestling trick he had learned as a boy.
The Space RoverEdwin K. Sloat
This bar is also of copper or brass and is pivoted to the fingers.
Electricity for BoysJ. S. Zerbe
She pivoted on her heel, hit the door, and her heels were clattering on the stairs.
Police Your PlanetLester del Rey
Slowly, he pivoted his chair, to look at the entertainment screen.
Final WeaponEverett B. Cole
Next, the gooseneck of the truss, on which it pivoted, smashed away.
The Mutiny of the ElsinoreJack London
pivot
- 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
Show More
- (tr) to mount on or provide with a pivot or pivots
- (intr) to turn on or as if on a pivot
Show More
Word Origin
C17: from Old French; perhaps related to Old Provençal pua tooth of a comb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pivoted
pivot
n.
1610s, from French pivot, from Old French pivot "hinge pin, pivot" (12c.), also "penis," of uncertain origin. Figurative sense of "central point" is recorded from 1813.
Show More
pivot
v.
by 1841, from French pivoter and from pivot (n). Related: Pivoted; pivoting.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper