axis

ax·is

noun

The definition of an axis is a real or imaginary line on which something rotates, or a straight line around which things are evenly arranged.

An example of axis is an imaginary line running through the earth on which the earth rotates.
An example of axis is the line running through the body from head to feet determining left and right sides.

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axis

noun

pl. ax′es·

a real or imaginary straight line on which an object rotates or is regarded as rotating: the axis of a planet
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
a main line of motion, development, etc.
an alignment between countries, groups, etc. for promoting their purposes
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
Anat.
1. the second cervical vertebra
2. any of various axial or central parts
Bot.
1. the main stem of a plant
2. the central system of a cluster
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
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

Origin of axis

L, axle, axis from Indo-European an unverified form aks- from base an unverified form a?- (see act) from source Old English eax, Old Norse ?xull, Classical Greek ax?n, Classical Latin axilla

axis 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)

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

Origin of axis

Modern Latin from Classical Latin

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axis

noun

pl. ax·es,

A straight line about which a body or geometric object rotates or may be conceived to rotate.
Mathematics
a. An unlimited line, half-line, or line segment serving to orient a space or a geometric object, especially a line about which the object is symmetric.
b. A reference line from which distances or angles are measured in a coordinate system.
A center line to which parts of a structure or body may be referred.
An imaginary line to which elements of a work of art, such as a picture, are referred for measurement or symmetry.
Anatomy
a. The second cervical vertebra on which the head turns.
b. Any of various central structures, such as the spinal column, or standard abstract lines used as a positional referent.
Botany The main stem or central part about which organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged.
One of three mutually perpendicular lines that define the orientation of an aircraft, with one being along its direction of travel and the other two being perpendicular to the direction of travel.
A line through the optical center of a lens that is perpendicular to both its surfaces.
One of three or four imaginary lines used to define the faces of a crystal and the position of its atoms.
a. An alliance of powers, such as nations, to promote mutual interests and policies.
b. Axis The alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936, later including Japan and other nations, that opposed the Allies in World War II.

Origin of axis

Middle English from Latin

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Plural axes (ăkˌ◌sēzˌ◌)

An imaginary line around which an object rotates. In a rotating sphere, such as the Earth and other planets, the two ends of the axis are called poles. The 23.45° tilt of the Earth's axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun causes the Northern and Southern Hemispheres to point toward and away from the Sun at different times of the year, creating seasonal patterns of weather and climate. Other planets in the solar system have widely varying tilts to their axes, ranging from near 0° for Mercury to 177° for Venus.
Mathematics
1. A line, ray, or line segment with respect to which a figure or object is symmetrical.
2. A reference line from which distances or angles are measured in a coordinate system, such as the x-axis and y-axis in the Cartesian coordinate system.
Anatomy The second cervical vertebra, which serves as a pivot for the head.
Botany The main stem or central part of a plant or plant part, about which other plant parts, such as branches or leaflets, are arranged.

Related Forms:

axial
adjective

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Noun

(plural axes)

(geometry) An imaginary line around which an object spins (an axis of rotation) or is symmetrically arranged (an axis of symmetry).
The Earth rotates once a day on its axis.
(mathematics) A fixed one-dimensional figure, such as a line or arc, with an origin and orientation and such that its points are in one-to-one correspondence with a set of numbers; an axis forms part of the basis of a space or is used to position and locate data in a graph (a coordinate axis).
(anatomy) The second cervical vertebra of the spine.

Origin

From Latin axis (“axis", "axle”).

Noun

(plural axises)

Axis axis, a deer native to Asia.

Origin

From Latin, name of an Indian animal mentioned by the Roman senator Pliny.

Proper noun

The alliance (in effect before and during World War II) of Germany, Italy, Japan, and several minor allied countries, which opposed the Allies.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

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axis - Computer Definition

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.
In optics, an imaginary line perpendicular to the center of a lens or mirror.

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axis - Medical Definition

n.

pl. axes (ăk′sēz′)

A straight line about which a body or geometric object rotates or may be conceived to rotate.
A center line to which parts of a structure or body may be referred.
Anatomy
1. The second cervical vertebra on which the head turns.
2. Any of various central structures, such as the spinal column, or standard abstract lines used as a positional referent.