a straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions
"The engineer calculated how rotating around the central axis would stabilize the spinning top's motion."
the main stem or central part about which plant organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged
"The architect designed the garden so that every flower bed radiated outward from the central axis of the fountain."
in World War II the alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936 which later included Japan and other nations
"the Axis opposed the Allies in World War II"
the 2nd cervical vertebra; serves as a pivot for turning the head
"During his neck injury, doctors were worried that damage to the axis would prevent him from shaking his head no."
the center around which something rotates
"The child spun in circles, laughing as she twirled on her invisible axis."
An imaginary line around which an object spins (an axis of rotation) or is symmetrically arranged (an axis of symmetry).
"The hunters tracked the rare Asian axis across the dense forest until they spotted it grazing near a stream."
Axis axis, a deer native to Asia.
In plain English: An axis is an imaginary line that something rotates around or stands on.
"The Earth rotates on its axis to create day and night."
Usage: Do not use "axis" to refer to the Asian deer; that animal is called an axel or is likely a confusion with the word "aardvark." Instead, use "axis" only for an imaginary line around which something rotates or as a central point of reference in geometry and data charts.
The alliance (in effect before and during World War II) of Germany, Italy, Japan, and several minor allied countries, which opposed the Allies.
"After Pearl Harbor, many historians analyze how the Axis powers coordinated their military strategies against the United States."
The word "axis" was borrowed from Latin in the 16th century to mean a central line or pivot point, similar to an axle. It shares ancient roots with other words like "aisle," tracing back to a common Proto-Indo-European ancestor that also gave rise to English terms such as "axle."