| Learning / English Dictionary |
AXIS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The center around which something rotates
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("axis" is a kind of...):
mechanism (device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "axis"):
pin; pivot (axis consisting of a short shaft that supports something that turns)
rotor head; rotor shaft (the axis around which the major rotor of a helicopter turns)
Derivation:
axial (of or relating to or resembling an axis of rotation)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The 2nd cervical vertebra; serves as a pivot for turning the head
Synonyms:
axis; axis vertebra
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("axis" is a kind of...):
cervical vertebra; neck bone (one of 7 vertebrae in the human spine located in the neck region)
Meronyms (parts of "axis"):
odontoid process (a toothlike process at the back of 2nd vertebra of the neck)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("axis" is a kind of...):
line (a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "axis"):
coordinate axis (one of the fixed reference lines of a coordinate system)
major axis (the longest axis of an ellipse or ellipsoid; passes through the two foci)
semimajor axis (one-half the major axis of an ellipse; the distance from the center of an ellipse to one end)
minor axis (the shorter or shortest axis of an ellipse or ellipsoid)
semiminor axis (one-half the minor axis of an ellipse)
optic axis; principal axis (a line that passes through the center of curvature of a lens so that light is neither reflected nor refracted)
optic axis (in a doubly refracting crystal, the line in the direction of which no double refraction occurs)
Derivation:
axial (situated on or along or in the direction of an axis)
axial (relating to or attached to the axis)
Sense 4
Meaning:
A group of countries in special alliance
Synonyms:
axis; bloc
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("axis" is a kind of...):
alignment; alinement; alliance; coalition (an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "axis"):
scheduled territories; sterling area; sterling bloc (the group of countries whose currencies are tied to the British pound sterling)
Sense 5
Meaning:
In World War II the alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936 which later included Japan and other nations
Example:
the Axis opposed the Allies in World War II
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Hypernyms ("Axis" is a kind of...):
alignment; alinement; alliance; coalition (an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty)
Sense 6
Meaning:
The main stem or central part about which plant organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("axis" is a kind of...):
stalk; stem (a slender or elongated structure that supports a plant or fungus or a plant part or plant organ)
Meronyms (parts of "axis"):
stele (the usually cylindrical central vascular portion of the axis of a vascular plant)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "axis"):
rachis (axis of a compound leaf or compound inflorescence)
spadix (the fleshy axis of a spike often surrounded by a spathe)
Context examples:
Chirality axis based stereochemistry where, using the Cahn-Ingold-Prelog (CIP) priority rules, the priorities (from highest to lowest) of the substituent atoms exist in a counterclockwise direction.
(Axial S, NCI Thesaurus)
The distance along the body axis which can be imaged at one bed position by the scanner's detector geometry.
(Axial Field of View, NCI Thesaurus)
Situated on or along or in the direction of an axis.
(Axial, NCI Thesaurus)
Overproduction of thyroid hormones due to a disorder originating within the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
(Central Hyperthyroidism, NCI Thesaurus)
Abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones due to a disorder originating within the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
(Central Hypothyroidism, NCI Thesaurus)
Pertaining to a plane containing a line parallel to the long axis of the subject's body and in addition presenting anterior and posterior views on each side of it.
(Coronal Plane, NCI Thesaurus)
A number or other designation that identifies a position relative to an axis or grid.
(Coordinate, NCI Thesaurus)
A method of examining structures within the body by scanning them with X rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis.
(Computed Tomography, NCI Thesaurus)
Mutations in this gene have been associated with left-right axis malformations, particularly in the heart and lungs.
(Endometrial Bleeding Associated Factor, NCI Thesaurus)
An electrocardiographic finding of a frontal plane QRS axis from -90 to +180 degrees.
(Extreme Right Axis Deviation, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)
