ax

or axe

[ aks ]
/ æks /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ax ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ax·es [ak-siz] /ˈæk sɪz/.

an instrument with a bladed head on a handle or helve, used for hewing, cleaving, chopping, etc.
Jazz Slang. any musical instrument.
the ax, Informal.
  1. dismissal from employment: to get the ax.
  2. expulsion from school.
  3. rejection by a lover, friend, etc.: His girlfriend gave him the ax.
  4. any usually summary removal or curtailment.

verb (used with object), axed, ax·ing.

to shape or trim with an ax.
to chop, split, destroy, break open, etc., with an ax: The firemen had to ax the door to reach the fire.
Informal. to dismiss, restrict, or destroy brutally, as if with an ax: The main office axed those in the field who didn't meet their quota. Congress axed the budget.

Idioms for ax

    have an ax to grind, to have a personal or selfish motive: His interest may be sincere, but I suspect he has an ax to grind.

Origin of ax

before 1000; Middle English; ax(e), ex(e), Old English æx, æces; akin to Gothic aquizi, Old Norse øx, ǫx, Old High German acc(h)us, a(c)kus (German Axt), Middle High German plural exa < Germanic *akwiz-, akuz-, aksi- ≪ *ákəs, áks-; Latin ascia (< *acsiā), Greek axī́nē; < Indo-European *ag-s-

OTHER WORDS FROM ax

ax·like, adjective

Words nearby ax

awre, awry, aws, awsome, awu, ax, ax job, ax to grind, ax-, ax., axa

Words related to axe

pistol, bomb, sword, gun, missile, cannon, rifle, machete, ammunition, firearm, knife, shotgun, revolver, cleave, cube, divide, mince, slash, hack, whack

Example sentences from the Web for axe

British Dictionary definitions for axe

axe

US ax

/ (æks) /

noun plural axes

a hand tool with one side of its head forged and sharpened to a cutting edge, used for felling trees, splitting timber, etc See also hatchet
an axe to grind
  1. an ulterior motive
  2. a grievance
  3. a pet subject
the axe informal
  1. dismissal, esp from employment; the sack (esp in the phrase get the axe)
  2. British severe cutting down of expenditure, esp the removal of unprofitable sections of a public service
US slang any musical instrument, esp a guitar or horn

verb (tr)

to chop or trim with an axe
informal to dismiss (employees), restrict (expenditure or services), or terminate (a project)

Word Origin for axe

Old English æx; related to Old Frisian axa, Old High German acchus, Old Norse öx, Latin ascia, Greek axinē

Medical definitions for axe

ax

abbr.

axis

Idioms and Phrases with axe

ax