pith
Definitions
The essential substance or core of something.
The soft, spongy tissue in the stems of dicotyledonous plants.
The white, fibrous inner rind of citrus fruits.
Examples
The orange peel was thick, and I had to scrape away the bitter white pith before eating the fruit.
The professor's lecture was brief, but it contained the very pith of the complex philosophical argument.
The gardener carefully removed the pith from the stems to ensure the flowers would absorb more water.
Synonyms
Antonyms
exterior surface frivolity insignificance triviality periphery shell