variants:
or ax
plural axes
Definition of axe
(Entry 1 of 2)
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 axe.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)
axe to grind
: an ulterior often selfish underlying purpose
claims that he has no axe to grind in criticizing the proposed law
axe
verb
variants:
or ax
axed; axing; axes
Definition of axe (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to shape, dress (see dress entry 1 sense 6e), or trim with an axe
axe stone
b
: to chop, split, or sever with an axe
axe 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.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share axe
Time Traveler for axe
The first known use of axe was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century