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Inflections of 'axe' (n): npl: axes
- Inflections of 'axe' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
- axes
- v 3rd person singular
- axing
- v pres p
- axed
- v past
- axed
- v past p
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026axe
(aks),USA pronunciation n., pl. ax•es (ak′siz),USA pronunciation v., axed, ax•ing.
- Buildingax.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
axe, US ax /æks/ n ( pl 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 ⇒
- an ulterior motive
- a grievance
- a pet subject
- the axe ⇒ informal
- dismissal, esp from employment; the sack (esp in the phrase get the axe)
- Brit severe cutting down of expenditure, esp the removal of unprofitable sections of a public service
vb (transitive)- to chop or trim with an axe
- informal to dismiss (employees), restrict (expenditure or services), or terminate (a project)
Etymology: Old English æx; related to Old Frisian axa, Old High German acchus, Old Norse öx, Latin ascia, Greek axinē ax or axe/æks/USA pronunciation
n., pl. ax•es /ˈæksɪz/USA pronunciation
v., axed, ax•ing.
n. [countable]
- Buildinga tool with a blade on a handle, used for hewing, chopping, splitting, etc.
- Informal Termsthe ax,
- a sudden dismissal from a job, task, etc.:The new president gave her the ax.
- any sudden removal or ending (of a project, etc.):The new tax plan got the ax in Congress.
v. [~ + object]
- to shape or trim with an ax.
- Informal Termsto dismiss, restrict, or remove, esp. unfairly and suddenly.
Idioms
- Idioms have an ax to grind, to have a personal or selfish motive:I have no ax to grind, so I'm willing to listen to all sides.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026ax
(aks),USA pronunciation n., pl. ax•es (ak′siz),USA pronunciation v., axed, ax•ing. n.
- Buildingan instrument with a bladed head on a handle or helve, used for hewing, cleaving, chopping, etc.
- Music and Dance[Jazz Slang.]any musical instrument.
- 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.
- the ax, [Informal.]
- dismissal from employment:to get the ax.
- expulsion from school.
- rejection by a lover, friend, etc.:His girlfriend gave him the ax.
- any usually summary removal or curtailment.
v.t.
- 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 Termsto 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.Also, axe.
- Indo-European *ag-s-
- *acsiā), Greek axí̄nē;
- Gmc *akwiz-, akuz-, aksi- *ákəs, áks-; Latin ascia (
- bef. 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
- var. of axi-, esp. before a vowel.
ax., - axiom.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026ax•es1
(ak′sēz),USA pronunciation n. - pl. of axis 1.
ax•es2
(ak′siz),USA pronunciation n. - pl. of ax or axe.
'axe' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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