juncture
- 01 C1 Advanced
a particular point in time, especially one that is very important or where a decision must be made.
a particular point in time, typically one characterized by a critical set of circumstances or a need for decision-making.
Simple“At this juncture, we need to decide whether to continue the project or stop.”
In context“At this critical juncture in the negotiations, any minor misunderstanding could lead to a total collapse of the peace process.”
UsageCommonly used in the fixed phrase 'at this juncture'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a place where two things are joined together.
a place where two things are joined; a junction or seam.
Simple“The pipes were leaking at the juncture where they met the main tank.”
In context“The engineer identified a structural weakness at the juncture of the two support beams, necessitating immediate reinforcement.”
UsageOften used in technical or architectural contexts to describe where components meet.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
the way two sounds in a language are joined when you speak.
the phonological transition or boundary between two consecutive speech sounds, serving as a cue to distinguish meaning.
Simple“The difference between 'a name' and 'an aim' is a matter of juncture.”
In context“Linguists study juncture to understand how listeners differentiate between identical sequences of phonemes that carry distinct semantic meanings.”
UsageUsed as a technical term in phonetics and linguistics.
Synonyms
“The decision to fire Espinoza comes at a key juncture for the Paz administration.”
“Lisa Nandy, the digital, culture, media and sport secretary, said the scheme would “support young people at a crucial juncture in their lives”.”
Inherited from Middle English juncture, from Latin iūnctūra. Doublet of jointure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.