Word Noun
fulcrum
n.
countable
C1 Advanced US /ˈfʊɫkɹəm/ UK /fˈʌlkɹəm/ ful·crum UK spelling fulcrums
Definition
n.the central point on which a lever turns. It is the part that stays still while the other parts move.
n.the point on which a lever rests and on which it pivots. In a broader sense, it refers to the central point or pivot of an activity or situation.
Examples
“The fulcrum of the seesaw is in the middle.”
“The engineer adjusted the position of the fulcrum to ensure the heavy door opened with less effort.”
“The treaty served as the fulcrum of the new peace agreement, balancing the demands of the two warring factions while leaving room for future negotiations.”
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin fulcrum (“bedpost, foot of a couch”), from fulciō (“prop up, support”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Latin fulcrum
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated