juncture

1 an event that occurs at a critical time; "at such junctures he always had an impulse to leave"; "it was needed only on special occasions" [syn: occasion]

2 a crisis situation or point in time when a critical decision must be made; "at that juncture he had no idea what to do"; "he must be made to realize that the company stands at a critical point" [syn: critical point, crossroads]

3 the shape or manner in which things come together and a connection is made [syn: articulation, join, joint, junction]

English

Pronunciation

IPA: /ˈdʒʌŋktʃər/

Noun

1. a place where things join, a junction
2. a critical moment in time

   We're at a crucial juncture in our relationship.

Usage notes

In highly formal or bureaucratic language, "at this juncture" is often used as a fancy way of saying "now".

• I'm unable to ascertain its whereabouts at this juncture.

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