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Definition of axe verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

axe

verb
 
/æks/
 
/æks/
(British English)
(US English ax)
[often passive]
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they axe
 
/æks/
 
/æks/
he / she / it axes
 
/ˈæksɪz/
 
/ˈæksɪz/
past simple axed
 
/ækst/
 
/ækst/
past participle axed
 
/ækst/
 
/ækst/
-ing form axing
 
/ˈæksɪŋ/
 
/ˈæksɪŋ/
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  1. (informal) (often used in newspapers) to get rid of a service, system, etc. or to reduce the money spent on it by a large amount
    • be axed Other less profitable services are to be axed later this year.
    Extra Examples
    • The series was axed after only six episodes.
    • 300 jobs are to be axed at a local chemical works.
  2. (informal) (often used in newspapers) to remove somebody from their job
    • be axed from something Jones has been axed from the team.
    • be axed 2 500 employees were axed as part of a rationalization program.
  3. axe somebody to kill somebody with an axe
  4. Word OriginOld English æx, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aaks and German Axt.
buttercup
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Plants and trees
C2
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