noun
Uncommon
axel
AK-suhl
Axel (noun) means a figure-skating jump in which the skater takes off from the outside edge of one skate, rotates one and a half times (or more) in the air, and lands on the opposite foot. Example: “She landed a clean triple axel in the free skate.”
noun
1
A figure-skating jump in which the skater takes off from the outside edge of one skate, rotates one and a half times (or more) in the air, and lands on the opposite foot.
"She landed a clean triple axel in the free skate."
"The commentators gasped when he attempted a quadruple axel."
verb
1
To perform an axel jump.
"He axeled cleanly out of the combination."
How to use axel
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spinning jump in figure skating, named after the man who invented it.
Common pairings
triple axel
land an axel
attempt an axel
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Word forms
- Plural
- axels
- Third person singular
- axels
- Past tense
- axeled, axelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She landed a clean triple _____ in the free skate.
Etymology
Named after the Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen, who first performed the jump in 1882.
Class of 1882
axel joined the language around 1882.
See the full Class of 1882 →
Frequently asked questions
What does “axel” mean?
The word “axel” means a figure-skating jump in which the skater takes off from the outside edge of one skate, rotates one and a half times (or more) in the air, and lands on the opposite foot. In plain terms, a spinning jump in figure skating, named after the man who invented it.
How do you pronounce “axel”?
“Axel” is pronounced AK-suhl (/ˈæk.səl/ in IPA).
How do you use “axel” in a sentence?
Here is “axel” used in a sentence: “She landed a clean triple axel in the free skate.”
What part of speech is “axel”?
Depending on how it is used, “axel” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “axel” come from?
The word “axel” dates back to around 1882 and comes from Norwegian. Named after the Norwegian figure skater Axel Paulsen, who first performed the jump in 1882.
Is “axel” a common word?
“Axel” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “axel” have?
“Axel” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a figure-skating jump in which the skater takes off from the outside edge of one skate, rotates one and a half times (or more) in the air, and lands on the opposite foot.
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