axis
AK-sihs
Axis (noun) means an imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically. Example: “The wheel turns smoothly around its axis.”
noun
1
An imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically.
"The wheel turns smoothly around its axis."
"The Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours."
"The vase was perfectly symmetrical along its central axis."
2
A fixed reference line on a graph, used to plot and measure data.
"Time is shown along the horizontal axis of the chart."
"Sales figures are plotted on the vertical axis."
"She labeled the x-axis with the months of the year."
3
An alliance between countries or groups acting together, especially a political or military one.
"Historians often discuss the axis formed by the three allied powers."
"The leaders announced a new axis of cooperation between their countries."
"The two nations formed an axis against their common rival."
4
The central point or focus of an activity or discussion.
"Fairness is the axis around which the whole argument turns."
"Friendship forms the axis of the story, and everything else revolves around it."
"Trade policy became the axis of the entire debate."
How to use axis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA central line something turns around, or (more loosely) a central point that everything else is organized around.
Common mistake
Capitalized "Axis" usually refers specifically to the WWII alliance of Germany, Italy, and Japan — lowercase "axis" is the general geometric or figurative sense.
Common pairings
axis of rotation
x-axis
axis of symmetry
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Word forms
- Plural
- axes, axiis, axises
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The wheel turns smoothly around its _____.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin axis, meaning "axle" or "axis" — the same root that gives us "axle".
Class of 1500
axis joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Related words
Rhymes for axis
See all rhymes for axis →Frequently asked questions
What does “axis” mean?
The word “axis” means an imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically. In plain terms, a central line something turns around, or (more loosely) a central point that everything else is organized around.
How do you pronounce “axis”?
“Axis” is pronounced AK-sihs (/ˈæksɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “axis” in a sentence?
Here is “axis” used in a sentence: “The Earth spins on its axis once every 24 hours.”
What part of speech is “axis”?
“Axis” is a noun.
Where does the word “axis” come from?
The word “axis” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Latin. Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin axis, meaning "axle" or "axis" — the same root that gives us "axle".
Is “axis” a common word?
“Axis” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “axis” have?
“Axis” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically.
What is the plural of axis?
The plural of axis is axes, pronounced "AK-seez." It looks identical in writing to axes, the plural of axe, but the two words are pronounced differently and are unrelated.
What is the difference between an axis and an axle?
An axis is an imaginary straight line around which something rotates, such as the Earth's axis. An axle is a real, physical rod or shaft on which wheels turn. The Earth spins on an axis; a car's wheels spin on an axle.
What are the x-axis and y-axis on a graph?
On a graph, each axis is a fixed reference line used to plot and measure data: the x-axis runs horizontally and the y-axis runs vertically. A point's position is given by its distance along each axis, written as coordinates such as (3, 5).
What is an axis in politics and war?
In politics, an axis is an alliance between countries or groups acting together, especially in a political or military sense. The best-known example is the Axis powers of the Second World War, chiefly Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the term still appears regularly in geopolitical writing.
