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axis

noun
ax·​is | \ ˈak-səs How to pronounce axis (audio) \
plural axes\ -​ˌsēz How to pronounce axes (audio) \

Definition of axis

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a straight line about which a body or a geometric figure rotates or may be supposed to rotate the Earth's axis
b : a straight line with respect to which a body or figure is symmetrical the axis of a cone

— called also axis of symmetry

c : a straight line that bisects at right angles a system of parallel chords of a curve and divides the curve into two symmetrical parts
d : one of the reference lines of a coordinate system (see coordinate entry 3 sense 1a)

2 anatomy

a : the second vertebra of the neck on which the head and first vertebra turn as on a pivot
b : any of various central, fundamental, or axial parts
3 botany : a plant stem
4 crystallography : one of several imaginary lines assumed in describing the positions of the planes by which a crystal is bounded and the positions of atoms in the structure of the crystal
5 : a main line of direction, motion, growth, or extension the axis of a city
6a : an implied line in painting or sculpture through a composition to which elements in the composition are referred fruit and flowers arranged about a diagonal axis
b : a line actually drawn and used as the basis of measurements in an architectural or other working drawing
7 aviation : any of three fixed lines of reference in an aircraft that run in the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical directions, are mutually perpendicular, and usually pass through the aircraft's center of gravity
8 : partnership, alliance an axis of countries
9 : a point or continuum on which something centers an axis of social power

Axis

adjective

Definition of Axis (Entry 2 of 2)

: of or relating to the three powers Germany, Italy, and Japan engaged against the Allied nations in World War II
Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about axis

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Examples of axis in a Sentence

Noun

 the Earth's axis of rotation the spin of the Earth on its axis

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

 The expected axis of heaviest rainfall for today and tonight has shifted farther south. — John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, "Heavy rains across region, especially in Bristol and Plymouth counties and Newport, R.I.," 13 Aug. 2019 Instead, a mounting accumulation of agricultural bad practices (monoculture crops led to bad bee diets, and a huge rise in pesticide use has ruined their health long-term) tilted the axis of the environment towards destruction. — Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Honeyland Is a Stinging Allegory for Man-Made Disaster," 9 Aug. 2019 As the Earth spins, the magnetic field roughly aligns with the axis of rotation, creating the magnetic north and south poles. — Emily Toomey, Smithsonian, "Earth’s Magnetic Field Could Take Longer to Flip Than Previously Thought," 8 Aug. 2019 But arguably the biggest surprise involved how one returning character will tilt the axis of power in the MCU. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Thor 4: Natalie Portman will play Thor! Wow! Wait. What?," 23 July 2019 The axis of the culture war in this country has shifted to national identity, immigration policy, and citizenship, and requires a new vocabulary. — Rich Lowry, National Review, "‘Cosmopolitan’ Is a Perfectly Fine Word for Cosmopolitans," 23 July 2019 But over the past century, the monumental central axis of the nation’s capital has evolved from a particular statement about post-Civil War reconciliation to a broader one about reconciling national ideals with national realities. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, "Forget the tanks. Trump’s violation of the Lincoln Memorial is the real offense.," 3 July 2019 Over time, resonant interactions with the sun would have pulled the rotation axis of Earth more upright to its present-day 23-degree tilt. — Simon J. Lock, Scientific American, "When Earth and the Moon Were One," 2 July 2019 Some pollsters speculate that as the axis of American politics has shifted away from economics toward cultural issues, the impact of the economy on presidential approval has weakened. — William A. Galston, WSJ, "Trump’s Poll Numbers Prove Character Counts," 25 June 2019

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

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First Known Use of axis

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1938, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for axis

Noun

Latin, axis, axle; akin to Old English eax axis, axle, Greek axōn, Lithuanian ašis, Sanskrit akṣaḥ

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More Definitions for axis

axis

noun
How to pronounce Axis (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of axis

: the imaginary straight line that something (such as the Earth) turns around
: a straight line that divides a shape evenly into two parts

See the full definition for axis in the English Language Learners Dictionary

axis

noun
ax·​is | \ ˈak-səs How to pronounce axis (audio) \
plural axes\ ˈak-​ˌsēz \

Kids Definition of axis

1 : a straight line about which a body or a geometric figure rotates or may be thought of as rotating the earth's axis
2 : a line of reference used to assign numbers to locations in a geometric plane

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