axis

axis

¹

1. a real or imaginary line about which a body, such as an aircraft, can rotate or about which an object, form, composition, or geometrical construction is symmetrical

2. one of two or three reference lines used in coordinate geometry to locate a point in a plane or in space

3. Anatomy the second cervical vertebra

4. Botany the main central part of a plant, typically consisting of the stem and root, from which secondary branches and other parts develop

5. an alliance between a number of states to coordinate their foreign policy

6. Optics the line of symmetry of an optical system, such as the line passing through the centre of a lens

7. Geology an imaginary line along the crest of an anticline or the trough of a syncline

8. Crystallog one of three lines passing through the centre of a crystal and used to characterize its symmetry

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axis

²

any of several S Asian deer of the genus Axis, esp A. axis. They typically have a reddish-brown white-spotted coat and slender antlers

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

axis

1. An imaginary line that usually passes through the center of a body or system and about which the body is often symmetrical or has some form of symmetry. It is the imaginary line about which a rotating body turns or about which an object, such as the celestial sphere, appears to rotate.

2. A reference line on a graph.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

Axis

An imaginary straight line, about which parts of a building, or group of buildings, can be arranged or measured.

Illustrated Dictionary of Architecture Copyright © 2012, 2002, 1998 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

axis

[′ak·səs]

(anatomy)

The second cervical vertebra in higher vertebrates; the first vertebra of amphibians.

The center line of an organism, organ, or other body part.

(geology)

A line where a folded bed has maximum curvature.

The central portion of a mountain chain.

(graphic arts)

The locus of intersection of two pencils of lines in perspective position.

(mathematics)

In a coordinate system, the line determining one of the coordinates, obtained by setting all other coordinates to zero.

A line of symmetry for a geometric figure.

For a cone whose base has a center, a line passing through this center and the vertex of the cone.

(mechanics)

A line about which a body rotates.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

axis

A straight line indicating center of symmetry of a solid or plane figure.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Axis

in World War II, the affiance of Germany, Italy, Japan, etc., opposing the Allies. [Eur. Hist.: Collier’s, VIII, 457]

See: Cooperation

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.