axe

Meaning

Noun

1. A tool for felling trees or chopping wood etc. consisting of a heavy head flattened to a blade on one side, and a handle attached to it.
2. An ancient weapon consisting of a head that has one or two blades and a long handle.
3. (informal) A dismissal or rejection.
4. A drastic reduction or cutback.
5. (slang) A gigging musician's particular instrument, especially a guitar in rock music or a saxophone in jazz.
6. A position, interest, or reason in buying and selling stock, often with ulterior motives.

Verb

1. To fell or chop with an axe.
2. To lay off, terminate or drastically reduce, especially in a rough or ruthless manner; to cancel.

Verb

To furnish with an axle.

Verb

Alternative form of ask

Pronounced as (IPA)

/æks/

Etymology

From Middle English ax, axe, ex, from Old English æx, from Proto-West Germanic *akusi, from Proto-Germanic *akwisī, probably from a Proto-Indo-European *h₂egʷsih₂ (“axe”), from *h₂eḱ- (“sharp, pointed”). Compare German Axt, Dutch aks, Danish økse, Icelandic öxi, and also Latin ascia.