WordWeb Online

1. The central meaning or theme of a speech or literary work
   - effect, essence, burden, core
    
2. The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
   "the gist of the prosecutor's argument";
   - kernel, substance, core, center [US], centre [Brit, Cdn], essence, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty

1. Make a summary (of)
   - précis

Derived forms: gisted, gisting, gists

Type of: cognitive content, content, import, meaning, mental object, resume, run over, significance, signification, sum up, summarise [Brit], summarize

Encyclopedia: Gist, Joseph