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

“We are continuing to get the company into a state of constantly stepping up into the scale we are at, so I don’t want to get wrapped around an IPO axle.”

From The Wall Street Journal

They then raised the church 4 feet off the ground, supported by steel beams, and put it on giant remote-controlled transporters with 56 axles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ferrari started lifting the hood on its first fully electric vehicle at an event that highlighted a new electric axle, motor and battery pack set to be made in-house.

From The Wall Street Journal

A coroner concluded Mr Burton's death was accidental as the axle stand which was holding up the vehicle had tipped onto its side, trapping him underneath.

From BBC

And that has been because of a specific issue with the car that has affected him more than Piastri - a lack of feel from the front axle.

From BBC