ax

noun

\ ˈaks \

variants: or axe

plural axes

Definition of ax

(Entry 1 of 4)

1 : a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood

2 : a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing (see dress entry 1 sense 6e) or spalling stone

3 informal

a : removal from office or release from employment : dismissal —usually used with the Employees with poor evaluations got the ax.Trump quickly gave him the ax [=fired him] for his incompetence.— Laura Petrecca

b : abrupt elimination or severe reduction of something Unlimited expense accounts, signing bonuses, and office plants—all are getting the ax [=being cut or eliminated] thanks to corporate cost-cutting measures.— Amanda Hinnant No party was brave enough to offend its supporters by [=taking an axe to] [=severely reducing] expenditure. — The Economist

4 slang : any of several musical instruments (such as a guitar or a saxophone)

ax to grind

: an ulterior often selfish underlying purpose claims that he has no ax to grind in criticizing the proposed law

verb

variants: or axe

axed; axing; axes

Definition of ax (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

1a : to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an ax ax stone

b : to chop, split, or sever with an ax ax branches from a tree

2 informal : to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget) The TV program was axed from the new schedule.

abbreviation

Definition of ax (Entry 3 of 4)

1 axiom

2 axis

biographical name

\ ˈaks \

Definition of Ax (Entry 4 of 4)

Emanuel 1949– American (Ukrainian-born of Polish parents) pianist

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Examples of ax in a Sentence

Noun

the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax

Verb

The boss told him that he had been axed.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The defense argued that the officers were targeted by an overzealous government that built its case largely on the lies of drug dealers who had an ax to grind. — Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit police officers lose appeal: ‘They were dirty cops’," 13 June 2019 Arya has an ax to grind with Cersei and the combat skills to defeat Jaime. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "All the Game of Thrones Fan Theories You Need to Read Before Season 8 Premieres," 8 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ax.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

ax

Definition of ax

Synonyms & Antonyms for ax

Examples of ax in a Sentence

First Known Use of ax

ax

Definition of ax

Synonyms & Antonyms for ax

Examples of ax in a Sentence

First Known Use of ax

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