I. axe 1 BrE AmE ( also ax American English ) /æks/ noun [countable]
1 . a tool with a heavy metal blade on the end of a long handle, used to cut down trees or split pieces of wood ⇨ ↑ pickaxe
2 . the axe informal if someone gets the axe, they are dismissed from their job:
100 workers are facing the axe in a cost-cutting exercise.
3 . the axe informal if a plan, system, or service gets the axe, someone gets rid of it:
MPs know there will be cuts in public spending but do not know on which department the axe will fall.
4 . have an axe to grind to have a strong personal opinion about something which is the reason why you do something:
I need objective advice from someone with no axe to grind.
II. axe 2 BrE AmE ( also ax American English ) verb [transitive]
1 . to suddenly dismiss someone from their job:
There are plans to axe 2,600 staff.
2 . to get rid of a plan, system, or service, especially in order to save money:
TV’s longest running show is to be axed.