noun
crux
kruhks
noun
1
The most important or decisive point of a matter.
"The crux of the argument was whether the contract had been broken."
2
A constellation in the southern sky, commonly known as the Southern Cross.
"Crux appears on the flags of Australia and New Zealand."
How to Use Crux
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe core issue at the heart of a problem or discussion.
Common pairings
the crux of the matter
crux of the problem
Word Forms
cruxes plural, cruces plural
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The _____ of the argument was whether the contract had been broken.
Etymology
From Latin crux, meaning "cross" — the sense shifted from a literal cross to a central, decisive point.