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axis¹ Definition

axis (ak′sis)

noun pl. ax′es-sēz′

  1. a real or imaginary straight line on which an object rotates or is regarded as rotating the axis of a planet
  2. a real or imaginary straight line around which the parts of a thing, system, etc. are symmetrically or evenly arranged or composed the axis of a picture
  3. a main line of motion, development, etc.
  4. an alignment between countries, groups, etc. for promoting their purposes
  5. Aeron. any of the three straight lines, perpendicular to each other, passing through the center of gravity of an aircraft, namely the longitudinal axis from nose to tail, the lateral axis from side to side, and the vertical axis from above to below
  6. Anat.
    1. the second cervical vertebra
    2. any of various axial or central parts
  7. Bot.
    1. the main stem of a plant
    2. the central system of a cluster
  8. Geom.
    1. a straight line through the center of a plane figure or solid, esp. one around which the parts are symmetrically arranged
    2. a straight line for measurement or reference, as in a graph
  9. Optics
    1. a straight line through the centers of both surfaces of a lens
    2. a straight line from the object of vision to the fovea of the eye

Etymology: L, axle, axis < IE *aks- < base *aĝ- (see act) > OE eax, ON ǫxull, Gr axōn, L axilla

axis¹ Idioms

the Axis

the countries aligned against the Allies in WWII: originally applied to Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy (Rome-Berlin Axis), later extended to include Japan, etc. (Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis)

axis² Definition

axis (ak′sis)

noun

any of a genus (Axis) of small deer of India and S Asia, with slender, sparsely branched antlers

Etymology: ModL < L

axis Synonyms

axis

n.

shaft, pivot, axle, pole, stem, support, dividing line, spindle, arbor, line of symmetry, line of rotation, line of revolution.

axis Telecom Definition
  1. In geometry and optics, a straight line, either real or imaginary, around which a body or figure, or parts thereof, are symmetrically or evenly arranged or composed. In an optical fiber, for example, the axis is the centerpoint of a cross-section.
  2. In optics, an imaginary line perpendicular to the center of a lens or mirror.
axis Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • ellipse: The major axis of the ellipse will be along the East-West line and the minor axis will be North-South.
  • evil: The same applies to Iran, the third wheel on the " axis of evil.
  • rotation: The pair is now assumed accelerated to a speed v by a force directed along the axis of rotation.
  • symmetry: He examined the three dimensional figures obtained by rotating a regular polygon about an axis of symmetry.

Converse of object

  • annotate: The size of the characters used to annotate the axis and its title when Hershey fonts are selected.
  • fold: Note that the common lines are spaced evenly around the three fold axis which generated them.

Adjective modifier

  • horizontal: The horizontal axis is the Galactic Plane or Milky Way.
  • vertical: Cut a grape in half along its vertical axis leaving a tiny bit of skin linking the two halves.
  • semi-major: The height of each curve is the semi-major axis of that planet, a measure of its distance from the star.
  • north-south: The north-south axis of the Great Palace, looking toward the ' south ' .
  • east-west: Both were situated east of the extant excavation units prolonging their east-west axis.
  • 2-fold: It ends up with two ligands overlap with each other while the 2-fold axis goes in the middle.

Modifies a noun

  • mundi: The Nine Sisters and the Axis Mundi New ideas on the axis mundi in northern epic tales by Alby Stone.
  • annotation: If these margins are too narrow any axis annotation may be clipped.

Noun used with modifier

  • x: The value for the x axis is always given first.
  • Y: Y axis = No of pellets embedded in specified sheet.
  • z: Analog outputs are available for each x, y, z axis from the hybrid.
  • semimajor: The semimajor axis of a planetary orbit is also the average distance from the planet to its primary.
  • rotation: The self rotation function indicates a six fold rotation axis parallel with the x-axis.
  • anteroposterior: For maximum color, the anteroposterior axis must be aligned at 45 o to the crossed polarizers.
axis Quotes

States like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming tothreaten the peace of the world.By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger.

—Bush, GeorgeW(alker)

We make this wide encircling movement in the Mediterranean, having for its primary object the recovery of the command of that vital sea, but also having for its object the exposure of the under-belly of the Axis, especially Italy, to heavyattack.

—Churchill, Lord Randolph Henry Spencer