schwerpunkt

See also: Schwerpunkt

English

Etymology

From German Schwerpunkt (“center of gravity, focal point, focus”), from schwer (“heavy”) + Punkt (“point”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) enPR: shvârʹ-po͝ongkt, IPA^(key): /ˈʃvɛɹpʊŋkt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃvɛəpʊŋkt/

Noun

schwerpunkt (plural schwerpunkts)

1. (military) main point, main target; point upon which the most effort is concentrated (e.g. during an attack)
   • 2006 June 12, Terry Sweetman, “Kim Finds a Sore Point”, in The Courier-Mail, Brisbane:

     Should it be the schwerpunkt of Labor's attack or will it be an unproductive dilution of forces?

   • 2004 June 25, Meir Ronnen, “Happy Families?”, in The Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem:

     In the only arty shot, the Dalai Lama, seen in silhouette, sits at the schwerpunkt of a Mondrian-like composition."

   • 2012 April 23, Mark Tarver, “finding the schwerpunkt”, in Google‎^[1], retrieved 2012-09-25:

     The schwerpunkt must be an application for which Shen is ideally suited; one where its unique strengths will make it difficult to mount any effective opposition to our advance and which we can develop quickly.