rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycruxCentral point
noun

crux

KRUKS/krʌks/

The most important or difficult point of a matter.

The tight central knot is the crux of the problem.

Hands work at central difficult knot.
Etymology
cruxLatincross

One explanation connects the Latin “cross” with torture, making it an image for something intensely puzzling or vexing. The sense “central difficulty” later broadened to the main point of a matter.

In context

United States Institute of Peace14:51
What really matters is the presence of foreign forces." And and that is the crux of the matter.
U.S. Leverage in South Asia

More examples

  • She quickly identified the crux of the problem.
  • The final paragraph contains the argument’s crux.
  • That difficult choice is the crux of the matter.

Forms

crux · cruxes

Similar words

core
Core is the central part; crux particularly identifies a decisive or difficult point.
essence
Essence is the fundamental nature; crux is the point on which a problem or argument turns.