ax

Inflections of 'ax' (n): npl: axes

Inflections of 'ax' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

ax or axe n., pl. ax•es v., axed, ax•ing.

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]

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.

ax n., pl. ax•es 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

ax′like′, adj.

ax-,

ax.,

axe n., pl. ax•es v., axed, ax•ing.

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' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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