1. the point against which a lever is placed to get a purchase, or on which it turns or is supported.
▪ a thing that plays a central or essential role in an activity, event, or situation:"research is the fulcrum of the academic community"
Word Originlate 17th century (originally in the general sense ‘a prop or support’): from Latin, literally ‘post of a couch’, from fulcire ‘to prop up’.