pith

  1. Noun.  The soft spongy substance in the center of the stems of many plants and trees.
  2. Noun.  (figuratively) The essential or vital part of an idea or theory or something else.
  3. Verb.  (transitive) To extract the pith from (a plant stem or tree).
  4. Verb.  (transitive) To kill (especially cattle or laboratory animals) by cutting or piercing the spinal cord.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.