noun
pickaxe
PIHK-aks
Pickaxe (noun) means a heavy tool with a pointed metal head on a long handle, used for breaking up hard ground or rock. Example: “He used a pickaxe to break through the concrete path.”
noun
1
A heavy tool with a pointed metal head on a long handle, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.
"He was mining stone using a pickaxe."
"He used a pickaxe to break through the concrete path."
"Miners once relied on pickaxes to chip away at rock faces."
How to use pickaxe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA heavy digging tool with a pointed metal head.
Common pairings
swing a pickaxe
pickaxe and shovel
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Word forms
- Plural
- pickaxes
- Third person singular
- pickaxes
- Past tense
- pickaxed
Fill the gap
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He used a _____ to break through the concrete path.
Etymology
An alteration of Middle English pikeis, related to French pic ("pike, point"), later reshaped in English under the influence of "pick" and "axe."
Synonyms
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pick
pickax
Related words
Rhymes for pickaxe
See all rhymes for pickaxe →Frequently asked questions
What does “pickaxe” mean?
The word “pickaxe” means a heavy tool with a pointed metal head on a long handle, used for breaking up hard ground or rock. In plain terms, a heavy digging tool with a pointed metal head.
How do you pronounce “pickaxe”?
“Pickaxe” is pronounced PIHK-aks (/ˈpɪkˌæks/ in IPA).
How do you use “pickaxe” in a sentence?
Here is “pickaxe” used in a sentence: “He used a pickaxe to break through the concrete path.”
What part of speech is “pickaxe”?
“Pickaxe” is a noun.
Where does the word “pickaxe” come from?
The word “pickaxe” comes from French. An alteration of Middle English pikeis, related to French pic ("pike, point"), later reshaped in English under the influence of "pick" and "axe.".
