gist

Meanings

• the central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
• the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
  • "the gist of the prosecutor's argument"

Synonyms

burden, center, centre, core, effect, essence, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meat, nitty-gritty, nub, pith, substance, sum