noun
axis
AK-sihs
noun
1
An imaginary straight line around which something rotates or is arranged symmetrically.
"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.
"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.
"The two nations formed an axis against their common rival."
4
The central point or focus of an activity or discussion.
"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
Word Forms
axes plural, axiis plural, axises plural
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The Earth spins on its _____ once every 24 hours.
Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin axis, meaning "axle" or "axis" — the same root that gives us "axle".