Ax or Axe: What's the Difference? | Merriam-Webster
The words 'ax' and 'axe' are both correct, but 'axe' is more common. The shorter spelling 'ax' was favored by Noah Webster, but 'axe' has prevailed as the dominant spelling for most of the years since.
Ax - definition of ax by The Free Dictionary
The widespread use of this pronunciation should not be surprising since ax is a very old word in English, having been used in England for over 1,000 years. In Old English we find both āscian and ācsian, …
Ax Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
AX meaning: 1 : a tool that has a heavy metal blade and a long handle and that is used for chopping wood; 2 : a hidden and often selfish purpose for doing something.
AX definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
An ax is a tool used for cutting wood. It consists of a heavy metal blade that is sharp at one edge and attached by its other edge to the end of a long handle. If someone's job or something such as a …
Is it ‘ax’ or ‘axe’? – Microsoft 365
Jan 31, 2023 · Again, both “ax” and “axe” are correct versions of the word, so you can’t go wrong using either. Use whichever spelling feels right for you—but beware of rules surrounding British English …
ax - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Nov 8, 2025 · ax (third-person singular simple present axes, present participle axing, simple past and past participle axed) US standard spelling of axe.
ax - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
to chop, split, destroy, break open, etc., with an ax: The firemen had to ax the door to reach the fire. Informal Terms to dismiss, restrict, or destroy brutally, as if with an ax: The main office axed those in …