来自pivot,核心。

1. He has established himself as a pivotal figure in US politics.

他已经确立了自己在美国政界的核心地位。

2. a pivotal role in European affairs

在欧洲事务中的关键作用

3. The Court of Appeal has a pivotal role in the English legal system.

上诉法院在英格兰司法体系中起着中心作用。

4. The elections may prove to be pivotal in Colombia's political history.

这一选举可能成为哥伦比亚政治史上关键的一次。

5. Both of these two pivotal concepts, however, have been refined by subsequent case law developments.

但这两个关键概念经随后的判例法发展而被推敲得愈发精练.