ax
1ax
noun \ˈaks\Definition of AX
1
: a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2
: a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing or spalling stone
3
: abrupt removal (as from employment or from a budget) —sometimes used in the phrase get the ax
4
: a musical instrument (as a guitar or a saxophone)
— ax to grind
: an ulterior often selfish underlying purpose <claims that he has no ax to grind in criticizing the proposed law>
See Variants of AX
ax or axe \ˈaks\
Examples of AX
- <the company was hemorrhaging money, so 700 employees would soon be given the ax>
Origin of AX
Middle English, from Old English æcs; akin to Old High German ackus ax, Latin ascia, Greek axinē
First Known Use: before 12th century
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