WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
lynchpin n 1: a central cohesive source of support and stability; "faith is his anchor"; "the keystone of campaign reform was the ban on soft money"; "he is the linchpin of this firm" [syn: anchor, mainstay, keystone, backbone, linchpin, lynchpin] 2: pin inserted through an axletree to hold a wheel on [syn: linchpin, lynchpin]