B2nounscienceacademic
US/ˈæk.sɪs/
UK/ˈæk.sɪs/
a line on a graph used to measure something, or a line that something turns around
In context
Put time on the horizontal axis and sales on the vertical axis.
The Earth turns on its axis once every 24 hours.
Label each axis clearly when you describe a chart in IELTS Task 1.
Words that go with axis
adjective + noun
- horizontal axisThe years are shown on the horizontal axis.
- vertical axisThe vertical axis shows the number of students.
noun + noun
- x-axisPlot the temperature along the x-axis.
verb + preposition
- rotate on its axisA planet rotates on its axis as it moves around the sun.
noun + preposition
- axis of the graphRead the numbers on each axis of the graph carefully.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
The graph has two axis.Correct: The graph has two axes.