axis

1 of 2

noun

ax·​is ˈak-səs How to pronounce axis (audio)
plural axes ˈak-ˌsēz How to pronounce axis (audio)
1
a
: 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
6
a
: 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

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to the three powers Germany, Italy, and Japan engaged against the Allied nations in World War II

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
In writer/director Stimson Stead’s irreverent world premiere, Dunning plays numerous versions of lonely, crackpot scientist Tim Travers, inventor of a time machine that spins the universe off its axis, and also kills off multiple versions of his younger self. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 The Westwood Drug Store and especially Hollis Johnson’s, the cozy 1950s-style diner in back, became an island of calm in a Jerry West world spinning off its axis. Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 The month ring, driven by internal gearing, completes one rotation around its axis annually. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Musk has, after all, tried to kneecap rivals by stealing their thunder, like a quad-motor Cybertruck capable of turning a full 360 degrees on its axis like a tank, or drive sideways like a crab. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2024 Stars, planets, and galaxies such as the Milky Way all spin around their axes in a fairly predictable manner. Nia Imara, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 Washington’s current focus on weakening Iran and cutting its support for the axis will not automatically disrupt the axis’s ties with Russia. Hamidreza Azizi, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2024 But now look at the piece near the axis of rotation (the yellow line). Rhett Allain, WIRED, 2 Feb. 2024 The axis of resistance, the Iranian officials told the Hezbollah leaders, is winning. Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Many were planted by Axis propagandists, but others appear to have originated with everyday citizens, frequently arising out of their anxieties, suspicions, prejudices or simple misunderstandings. Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 By killing high-level Iranian and Axis commanders, hitting ammunition dumps and matériel caches, and destroying Iran’s Imam Ali Military Base in eastern Syria, the U.S. can disrupt Tehran’s ability to sustain Hezbollah and Hamas, making Israeli pressure against Lebanon much more credible. Seth Cropsey, National Review, 10 Feb. 2024 The Axis occupation of Greece ended with Germany’s withdrawal from the country in October 1944. Carolyn Hagler, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Sep. 2023 One such ship is among a large group traveling from Iceland to Russian port city Murmansk, under heavy threat of Axis attack en route. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024 The same handle ergonomics and Axis locking mechanism are replicated across knives. Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2024 The North African war was being waged mostly along coastal areas, where Axis airfields and bases were strung out. Robert D. McFadden, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2024 This was the primary strategy the Allies employed against the Axis powers in World War II. Andrew F. Krepinevich, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023 Englund’s book focuses on a single month in 1942, which began with the war’s outcome uncertain but then saw the Axis powers suffer a string of reverses—at Guadalcanal and Stalingrad and in North Africa. Peter Englund, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'axis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, "imaginary line passing through the center of a body, celestial axis," borrowed from Latin, "axletree, axle, chariot, celestial axis," going back to Indo-European *h2eḱs- "axle," whence also, with varying thematic derivation, Germanic *ahsō (whence Old English eax "axle," Old Saxon & Old High German ahsa), Old Russian/Eastern Church Slavic osĭ "axle," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian ôs, Lithuanian ašìs, Old Prussian assis, Greek axon-, áxōn, Sanskrit ákṣaḥ, Avestan aša- "armpit"

Note: The Indo-European base *h2eḱs- also has derivatives with a suffixal l, for which see ala, axletree; compare also Welsh echel "axle, pivot," Breton ahel, which may go back to *akselā. The various thematic forms and extensions of h2eḱs- may reflect a root noun rather than an i-stem as in Latin; see E. Hamp, "Refining Indo-European Lexical Entries," Zeitschrift für vergleichende Sprachforschung, 95. Band, 1. Heft (1981), pp. 81-83. The original meaning of the noun may have been "shoulder joint"—if so, Avestan would be the only language to preserve this sense. It has been suggested that *h2eḱs- was formed by a "root extension" -s- from the verbal base *h2eǵ- "drive (cattle, etc.), set in motion (see agent).

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of axis was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near axis

Cite this Entry

“Axis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

axis

noun
ax·​is ˈak-səs How to pronounce axis (audio)
plural axes ˈak-ˌsēz How to pronounce axis (audio)
1
a
: 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

called also axis of symmetry

c
: one of the reference lines of a coordinate system
2
a
: a bodily structure around which parts are arranged in a symmetrical way
b
: the main stem of a plant from which leaves and branches arise

Medical Definition

axis

noun
ax·​is ˈak-səs How to pronounce axis (audio)
plural axes -ˌsēz How to pronounce axis (audio)
1
a
: a straight line about which a body or a geometric figure rotates or may be thought of as rotating
b
: a straight line with respect to which a body, organ, or figure is symmetrical
2
a
: the second vertebra of the neck of the higher vertebrates that is prolonged anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra and united with the dens which serves as a pivot for the atlas and head to turn upon

called also epistropheus

b
: any of various central, fundamental, or axial parts
the cerebrospinal axis
the skeletal axis
c
: axilla

More from Merriam-Webster on axis

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