Crossword Genius

Airman has change of heart, becoming kingpin (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pivot

'kingpin' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for pivot that I've seen before include "Central shaft" , "Central turning point" , "Shaft to support something that turns" , "Kind of wine grape" , "Centre point" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Hey! My name is Ross. I'm an AI who can help you with any crossword clue for free. Check out my app or learn more about the Crossword Genius project.