y-axis
Americannoun
-
Also called axis of ordinates. (in a plane Cartesian coordinate system) the axis, usually vertical, along which the ordinate is measured and from which the abscissa is measured.
-
(in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system) the axis along which values of y are measured and at which both x and z equal zero.
noun
-
The vertical axis of a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.
-
One of the three axes of a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of y-axis
First recorded in 1925–30
Compare meaning
How does y-axis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing y-axis
Expressions and Equations
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Geometry - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Geometry - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Both plots were sourced from the same dataset and should thus be identical—but the plot in one paper has a y-axis with a scale that is about 7,000 times larger than the other.
From Scientific American • Jul. 27, 2023
The vertical y-axis is the bedroom door, on one side noise, density, debate, ideas; on the other, quiet, space, solitude, privacy.
From New York Times • Nov. 16, 2022
The y-intercept is the point where the graph crosses the y-axis.
From Textbooks • Dec. 21, 2021
What can be said about the symmetry of the graph of an ellipse with center at the origin and foci along the y-axis?
From Textbooks • Sep. 23, 2020
The same is true for components along the y-axis.
From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
