axis

B2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ˈæksɪs/ UK /ˈæksɪs/ See IPA manual

Freq #13725

Meanings

1

noun
An imaginary line through the centre of an object, around which it turns.

The Earth spins on its axis once a day.
2

noun
A fixed line used to measure or position points on a graph.

Time is shown on the horizontal axis of the chart.
3

noun
An alliance between countries or groups working together.

The two nations formed a powerful military axis.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an imaginary line through... axis of rotation

3 noun · an alliance between... bloc league pact

Word family

Forms axises

Derived forms axi-axipetalaxisedcoaxiseigenaxisinteraxismultiaxisneuraxispseudoaxissemiaxisx-axisy-axis

Related forms axialaxiallyaxile

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-? Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-der. Proto-Italic *aksis Latin axisbor. English axis Borrowed from Latin axis (“axle, axis”) in the 16th century. Via Latin cognate with ala, aisle, atelier. Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- cognate with inherited English axle and borrowed axo-, axon.

*h₂eḱs- Proto-Indo-European axis Latin

View etymology graph ->

External links

# axis

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈæksɪs/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈæksɪs/
**Frequency rank:** 13725

## Meanings
1. An imaginary line through the centre of an object, around which it turns.
2. A fixed line used to measure or position points on a graph.
3. An alliance between countries or groups working together.

## Examples
- The Earth spins on its axis once a day.
- Time is shown on the horizontal axis of the chart.
- The two nations formed a powerful military axis.

## Derived Forms
- axi-
- axipetal
- axised
- coaxis
- eigenaxis
- interaxis
- multiaxis
- neuraxis
- pseudoaxis
- semiaxis
- x-axis
- y-axis

## Related Forms
- axial
- axially
- axile

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂eḱs-
- Root: axis

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-? Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-der. Proto-Italic *aksis Latin axisbor. English axis Borrowed from Latin axis (“axle, axis”) in the 16th century. Via Latin cognate with ala, aisle, atelier. Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- cognate with inherited English axle and borrowed axo-, axon.

## AI Etymology
Axis was borrowed from Latin axis (“axle, axis”) in the 16th century. Via Latin cognate with ala, aisle, atelier. Via Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs- cognate with inherited English axle and borrowed axo-, axon. Axis follows a historical chain through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-?, Proto-Indo-European *-os, Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱs-, Proto-Italic *aksis, Latin axis, English axis.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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axis

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