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
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use pivot in a sentence
In a time when our social media feeds are full of new menus, new pivots, new appeals for support, my new to-do list is a way to concentrate all that energy into something that feels slightly less paralyzing to me as a consumer.
Overwhelmed by How to Help the Restaurant Industry? Make a List. | Erin DeJesus | November 20, 2020 | EaterHe marvels at the “ingenious geniuses” of both Shakespeare and the creator of the cluster bomb, and pivots again, to an unnamed “you” sitting with him for breakfast at a diner.
Eighty years of memories that will stir readers’ own | Connie Schultz | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostBarnes said Vice Media’s creative teams were able to make that pivot, helping clients stay on track to make their targets through the lean months.
Deep Dive: How the future of publishing is taking shape in the ongoing coronavirus crisis era | Pierre Bienaimé | November 17, 2020 | DigidayTV companies’ streaming pivots eating into their profit margins is to be expected.
TV networks cut costs to confront shrinking profits amid streaming shift | Tim Peterson | November 11, 2020 | DigidayThis is a pivot point behind you where the vehicle will move in the opposite direction when you turn.
Hints From Heloise: Be cautious when using a portable generator | Heloise Heloise | November 5, 2020 | Washington Post
Then, on June 10, after ISIS captured Mosul, its messages pivoted towards the West.
ISIS is Using Social Media to Reach YOU, Its New Audience | Jacob Siegel | August 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 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.
The man pivoted on his spurred heels and came straight toward me.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show | Robert W. Chambers | February 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTHe pivoted in his tracks, doubled back into the dining room, went through another door that brought him to the living room.
The one shown was pivoted to a roller-skate wheel which in turn was fastened to a metal standard.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousTo control the direction and make the model fly in a circle it is fastened to a long stick or beam which is pivoted in the center.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2 | VariousBut he soon pivoted and slid much faster, all in time with the sounds he drew from the harmonica.
Six Little Bunkers at Mammy June's | Laura Lee HopeBallard dodged one, appeared to offer the ball to the second, then pivoted and faded out to the right.
Red Dynamite | Roy J. Snell
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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