soft spongelike central cylinder of the stems of most flowering plants

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; the gist of the prosecutors argument; the heart and soul of the Republican Party; the nub of the story

[ Syn: kernel , substance , core , center , centre , essence , gist , heart , heart and soul , inwardness , marrow , meat , nub , sum , nitty-gritty ]

remove the pith from (a plant)