axle

American  

[ak-suhl] / ˈæk səl /

noun

1. Machinery. the pin, bar, shaft, or the like, on which or by means of which a wheel or pair of wheels rotates.

2. the spindle at either end of an axletree.

3. an axletree.

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axle British  

/ ˈæksəl /

noun

1. a bar or shaft on which a wheel, pair of wheels, or other rotating member revolves

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Other Word Forms

• axled adjective
• unaxled adjective

Etymology

Origin of axle

before 900; Middle English axel, Old English eaxl shoulder, crossbeam (in eaxle-gespann ); cognate with Old Frisian ax ( e ) le, Old Saxon ahsla, Old High German ahsala shoulder ( German Achsel ), Old Norse ǫxl, Latin āla (< derivative of *akslā )

Example Sentences

This year, the MGU-H has been removed, and the rules forbid the MGU-K - the motor generator unit on the rear axle - from being used to assist at starts until the car reaches a certain speed.

From BBC

In many instances, teams are using high-speed parts of the track to reduce engine output to the rear axle and charge the battery instead, a process known as "clipping".

From BBC

The Opel Blitz was stuck fast in the deep gravel bed, almost up to its axles.

From BBC

Hence the decision to go for a nominal 50-50 split between electric and internal combustion power and an engine with no MGU-H and a much more powerful MGU-K, recovering from the rear axle only.

From BBC

The four-time champion spun off and crashed at Turn One on his first lap of the session when his rear axle locked, catching him by surprise.

From BBC