Pivot

Noun

 * 1) A thing on which something turns; specifically a metal pointed pin or short shaft in machinery, such as the end of an axle or spindle.
 * 2) Something or someone having a paramount significance in a certain situation.
 * 3) Act of turning on one foot.
 * 4) A player in roller derby with responsibility for co-ordinating their team in a particular jam.

Related terms

 * fulcrum
 * pivotal

Verb

 * 1)  To turn on an exact spot.

Thesaurus
ankle, arbor, articulation, avert, axis, axle, axle bar, axle shaft, axle spindle, axle-tree, bearing, bench mark, boundary, butt, cardinal point, center, center of action, center of gravity, centroid, centrum, cervix, chief thing, circle, circulate, circumrotate, circumvolute, climax, clinch, closure, come about, connecting link, connecting rod, connection, core, cornerstone, coupling, crank, crisis, critical point, crux, dead center, deflect, depend, distaff, divert, dovetail, elbow, embrace, epicenter, essence, essential, essential matter, fetch about, focal point, fulcrum, fundamental, gimbal, gist, gliding joint, go about, go around, go round, gravamen, great point, gudgeon, gyrate, gyre, hang, heart, heel, high point, hinge, hinged joint, hingle, hip, hub, important thing, interface, issue, join, joining, joint, juncture, kernel, keystone, kingpin, knee, knuckle, landmark, link, main point, main thing, mandrel, marrow, material point, meat, medulla, metacenter, middle, milestone, miter, mortise, nave, navel, neck, nub, nucleus, oarlock, omphalos, pin, pintle, pirouette, pith, pivot about, pivot joint, pole, put about, rabbet, radiant, real issue, rely, rest, resting point, revolve, rotate, round, rowlock, salient point, scarf, screw, seam, sheer, shoulder, sine qua non, spin, spindle, stitch, storm center, substance, substantive point, suture, swing, swing round, swivel, symphysis, the bottom line, the point, thole, tholepin, tie rod, toggle, toggle joint, trunnion, turn, turn a pirouette, turn about, turn around, turn round, turn tail, turning point, twirl, twist, umbilicus, union, veer, veer around, volte-face, wamble, weld, wheel, wheel about, whip, whirl, wind, wrist