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Definition of axis noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

axis

noun
 
/ˈæksɪs/
 
/ˈæksɪs/
(plural axes
 
/ˈæksiːz/
 
/ˈæksiːz/
)
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  1. an imaginary line through the centre of an object, around which the object turns
    • Mars takes longer to revolve on its axis than the Earth.
    • the earth’s axis of rotation
    Topics Spacec1, Maths and measurementc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • horizontal
    • vertical
    • x
    preposition
    • along an/​the axis
    • on an/​the axis
    phrases
    • an axis of rotation
    • an axis of symmetry
    See full entry
  2. (specialist) a fixed line against which the positions of points are measured, especially points on a graph
    • the vertical/horizontal axis
    • The real wage is measured along the horizontal axis and the quantity of labour is measured along the vertical axis.
    • The main road is on a north-south axis.
    • the speed is measured along the horizontal axis
    Topics Maths and measurementc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • horizontal
    • vertical
    • x
    preposition
    • along an/​the axis
    • on an/​the axis
    phrases
    • an axis of rotation
    • an axis of symmetry
    See full entry
  3. (geometry) a line that divides a shape into two equal parts
    • an axis of symmetry
    • The axis of a circle is its diameter.
    Topics Colours and Shapesc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • horizontal
    • vertical
    • x
    preposition
    • along an/​the axis
    • on an/​the axis
    phrases
    • an axis of rotation
    • an axis of symmetry
    See full entry
  4. [usually singular] (formal) an agreement or alliance between two or more countries that forms the centre for a larger grouping of nations
    • the Franco-German axis
    Topics Politicsc2
  5. Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin, ‘axle, pivot’.
See axis in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee axis in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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