( <美> 亦作ax)
1
- a tool used for chopping wood, typically of iron with a steel edge and wooden handle斧子。
1.1
the axe
a measure intended to reduce costs drastically, especially one involving redundancies（为大幅度降低成本而实行的）裁减, 撤销（尤指裁员）：thirty staff are facing the axe at the Royal Infirmary.
皇家医院有30名员工面临裁员。
2
- informal a musical instrument used in popular music or jazz, especially a guitar or (originally) a saxophone〈非正式〉（流行音乐或爵士乐中的）乐器（尤指吉他或萨克斯管）。
with obj.
1
- end, cancel, or dismiss suddenly and ruthlessly裁减; 取消; 解雇：
the company is axing 125 jobs
公司要裁减125个职位
2,500 staff were axed as part of a rationalization programme.
作为精简计划的一部分, 解雇了2,500名员工。
1.1
- reduce (costs or services) drastically（大幅）减少（费用, 服务）：
the Chancellor warned the cabinet to axe public spending.
总理警告内阁要减少公共开支。
2
- cut or strike with an axe, especially violently or destructively（用斧）砍; 击（坏）：
the mahogany panelling had been axed.
红木镶板被砍坏了。
短语
have an axe to grind
- have a private reason for doing or being involved in something（做事）有个人打算。
词源
Old English œx, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch aaks and German Axt.