Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

major axis

American  

noun

Mathematics.
  1. the axis of an ellipse that passes through the two foci.


major axis British  

noun

  1. the longer or longest axis of an ellipse or ellipsoid

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of major axis

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Determine whether the major axis is horizontal or vertical.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

The segment connecting the vertices is called the major axis.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

A segment perpendicular to the major axis that passes through the center and intersects the ellipse in two points is called the minor axis.

From Textbooks • May 6, 2020

If the major axis of an ellipse is 16 cm, what is the semimajor axis?

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

That is, the major axis of the Americas is north-south.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "major axis" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com