Axis vs. Shaft — What's the Difference?

A straight line about which a body or geometric object rotates or may be conceived to rotate.

The long narrow stem or body of a spear or arrow.

An unlimited line, half-line, or line segment serving to orient a space or a geometric object, especially a line about which the object is symmetric.

A spear or arrow.

A reference line from which distances or angles are measured in a coordinate system.

The handle of any of various tools or implements.

A center line to which parts of a structure or body may be referred.

One of two parallel poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle.

An imaginary line to which elements of a work of art, such as a picture, are referred for measurement or symmetry.

A long, generally cylindrical bar that rotates and transmits power, as the drive shaft of an engine.

The second cervical vertebra on which the head turns.

(Zoology) The main axis of a feather, especially its distal portion.

Any of various central structures, such as the spinal column, or standard abstract lines used as a positional referent.

The midsection of a long bone; the diaphysis.

(Botany) The main stem or central part about which organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged.

The section of a hair projecting from the surface of the body.

One of three mutually perpendicular lines that define the orientation of an aircraft, with one being along its direction of travel and the other two being perpendicular to the direction of travel.

The body of the clitoris, extending from the root to the glans.

A line through the optical center of a lens that is perpendicular to both its surfaces.

The body of the penis, extending from the root to the glans.

One of three or four imaginary lines used to define the faces of a crystal and the position of its atoms.

A column or obelisk.

An alliance of powers, such as nations, to promote mutual interests and policies.

The principal portion of a column, between the capital and the base.

Axis The alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936, later including Japan and other nations, that opposed the Allies in World War II.

A ray or beam of light.

(geometry) An imaginary line around which an object spins (an axis of rotation) or is symmetrically arranged (an axis of symmetry).

A bolt of lightning.

(mathematics) A fixed one-dimensional figure, such as a line or arc, with an origin and orientation and such that its points are in one-to-one correspondence with a set of numbers; an axis forms part of the basis of a space or is used to position and locate data in a graph (a coordinate axis)

A long, narrow, often vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for mining ore; a tunnel.

(skeleton) The second cervical vertebra of the spine

A vertical passage housing an elevator.

(anatomy) An imaginary, visualized plane separating two morphologically similar parts of an organism

A duct or conduit for the passage of air, as for ventilation or heating.

(psychiatry) A form of classification and descriptions of mental disorders or disabilities used in manuals such as the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

The upright portion of a boot that covers the leg.

(botany) The main stem or central part about which organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged

A scornful or sarcastic remark; a barb.

(military) An alliance or coalition.

(Slang) Harsh, unfair treatment. Often used with the

A deer native to Asia, of species Axis axis.

Vulgar Slang A penis.

The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name).

To equip with a shaft.

A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically arranged.

(Slang) To treat in a harsh, unfair way

A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i. e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line passing through the center.

(Slang) To penetrate (someone) sexually.

The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body.

(obsolete) The entire body of a long weapon, such as an arrow.

The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata.

The long, narrow, central body of a spear, arrow, or javelin.

One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded.

(by extension) Anything cast or thrown as a spear or javelin.

The primary or secondary central line of any design.

Any long thin object, such as the handle of a tool, one of the poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle, the driveshaft of a motorized vehicle with rear-wheel drive, an axle, etc.

A straight line through a body or figure that satisfies certain conditions

A beam or ray of light.

The center around which something rotates

The main axis of a feather.

The main stem or central part about which plant organs or plant parts such as branches are arranged

(lacrosse) The long narrow body of a lacrosse stick.

In World War II the alliance of Germany and Italy in 1936 which later included Japan and other nations;

A vertical or inclined passage sunk into the earth as part of a mine

A group of countries in special alliance

A vertical passage housing a lift or elevator; a liftshaft.

The 2nd cervical vertebra; serves as a pivot for turning the head

A ventilation or heating conduit; an air duct.

(architecture) Any column or pillar, particularly the body of a column between its capital and pedestal.

The main cylindrical part of the penis.

The chamber of a blast furnace.

(weather) A relatively small area of precipitation that an onlook can discern from the dry surrounding area.

To fuck over; to cause harm to, especially through deceit or treachery.

(transitive) To equip with a shaft.

To fuck; to have sexual intercourse with.

The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow.

The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light.

That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical.

The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc.

A humming bird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; - called also cora humming bird.

A rod at the end of a heddle.

A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc.

A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft.

The chamber of a blast furnace.

A line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect;

A long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)

A column of light (as from a beacon)

The main (mid) section of a long bone

Obscene terms for penis

A long pointed rod used as a weapon

A vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator)

(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column

A vertical passage into a mine

A revolving rod that transmits power or motion

The hollow shaft of a feather

Equip with a shaft

Defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit