shaft
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shaft
(shăft)n.
1. A long thin object or part, as:
a. The long narrow stem or body of a spear or arrow.
b. A spear or arrow.
c. The handle of any of various tools or implements.
d. One of two parallel poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle.
e. A long, generally cylindrical bar that rotates and transmits power, as the drive shaft of an engine.
2. Zoology The main axis of a feather, especially its distal portion.
3. Anatomy
a. The midsection of a long bone; the diaphysis.
b. The section of a hair projecting from the surface of the body.
c. The body of the clitoris, extending from the root to the glans.
d. The body of the penis, extending from the root to the glans.
4. Architecture
a. A column or obelisk.
b. The principal portion of a column, between the capital and the base.
5. Something suggestive of a spear or arrow in appearance or configuration, as:
a. A ray or beam of light.
b. A bolt of lightning.
6.
a. A long, narrow, often vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for mining ore; a tunnel.
b. A vertical passage housing an elevator.
c. A duct or conduit for the passage of air, as for ventilation or heating.
7. The upright portion of a boot that covers the leg.
8.
a. A scornful or sarcastic remark; a barb.
b. Slang Harsh, unfair treatment. Often used with the: The management gave the unions the shaft.
9. Vulgar Slang A penis.
tr.v. shaft·ed, shaft·ing, shafts
1. To equip with a shaft.
2. Slang To treat in a harsh, unfair way: "He had been shafted by the press quite a bit" (Frank Deford).
3. Slang To penetrate (someone) sexually.
[Middle English, from Old English sceaft.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
shaft
(ʃɑːft)n
1. the long narrow pole that forms the body of a spear, arrow, etc
2. something directed at a person in the manner of a missile: shafts of sarcasm.
3. a ray, beam, or streak, esp of light
4. a rod or pole forming the handle of a hammer, axe, golf club, etc
5. (Mechanical Engineering) a revolving rod that transmits motion or power: usually used of axial rotation. Compare rod9
6. one of the two wooden poles by which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle
7. (Anatomy) anatomy
a. the middle part (diaphysis) of a long bone
b. the main portion of any elongated structure or part
8. (Architecture) the middle part of a column or pier, between the base and the capital
9. (Architecture) a column, obelisk, etc, esp one that forms a monument
10. (Architecture) architect a column that supports a vaulting rib, sometimes one of a set
11. (Building) a vertical passageway through a building, as for a lift
12. (Mining & Quarrying) a vertical passageway into a mine
13. (Zoology) ornithol the central rib of a feather
14. (Archery) an archaic or literary word for arrow
15. get the shaft slang US and Canadian to be tricked or cheated
vb
16. slang to have sexual intercourse with (a woman)
17. slang to trick or cheat
[Old English sceaft; related to Old Norse skapt, German Schaft, Latin scāpus shaft, Greek skeptron sceptre, Lettish skeps javelin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
shaft
(ʃæft, ʃɑft)n.
1. a long pole forming the body of various weapons, as lances or arrows.
2. something directed at someone or something in sharp attack: shafts of sarcasm.
3. a ray or beam.
4. a long handle serving to balance or manipulate a weapon or tool, as an ax or a golf club.
5. a rotating or oscillating rod that transmits motion and torque, as a ship's propeller shaft or the drive shaft of an automobile.
6.
a. the part of a column or pier between the base and the capital.
b. any distinct, slender vertical masonry feature engaged in a wall or pier and usu. supporting an arch or vault.
7. a monument in the form of a column, obelisk, or the like.
8. either of the parallel bars between which the animal drawing a vehicle is hitched.
9. any well-like passage or vertical enclosed space, as in a building.
10. a vertical or sloping passageway in a mine that leads to the surface.
11. the trunk of a tree.
12. the main stem or midrib of a feather.
13. Slang. harsh or unfair treatment.
v.t. 14. to push or propel with a pole.
15. Slang. to treat in a harsh or treacherous manner.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English sceaft, c. Old Frisian sceft, Old Saxon, Old High German scaft, Old Norse skaft]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
shaft
- A ray of light.See also related terms for ray.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
Shaft
a missle or beam. See also ray.Examples: shaft of lightning, 1878; of love, 1600; of malice; of ridicule, 1779; of gentle satire, 1847; of sunlight; of wit.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
shaft
Past participle: shafted
Gerund: shafting
| Imperative |
|---|
| shaft |
| shaft |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  shaft - a line that forms the length of an arrow pointerline - a mark that is long relative to its width; "He drew a line on the chart" |
| 2. |  shaft - an aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect; "his parting shot was `drop dead'"; "she threw shafts of sarcasm"; "she takes a dig at me every chance she gets"comment, remark, input - a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information; "from time to time she contributed a personal comment on his account" cheap shot - an unnecessarily aggressive and unfair remark directed at a defenseless person | |
| 3. | shaft - a long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow) axle - a shaft on which a wheel rotates rod - a long thin implement made of metal or wood thill - one of two shafts extending from the body of a cart or carriage on either side of the animal that pulls it | |
| 4. |  shaft - a column of light (as from a beacon)heat ray - a ray that produces a thermal effect high beam - the beam of a car's headlights that provides distant illumination light, visible light, visible radiation - (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation; "the light was filtered through a soft glass window" laser beam - a beam of light generated by a laser low beam - the beam of a car's headlights that provides illumination for a short distance | |
| 5. |  shaft - the main (mid) section of a long bone | |
| 6. |  shaft - obscene terms for penis | |
| 7. |  shaft - a long pointed rod used as a tool or weaponbarb - a subsidiary point facing opposite from the main point that makes an arrowhead or spear hard to remove javelin - a spear thrown as a weapon or in competitive field events trident - a spear with three prongs weapon, weapon system, arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" | |
| 8. | shaft - a vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator) building, edifice - a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place; "there was a three-story building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" elevator shaft - a vertical shaft in a building to permit the passage of an elevator from floor to floor passageway - a passage between rooms or between buildings ventilation shaft - a shaft in a building; serves as an air passage for ventilation well - an open shaft through the floors of a building (as for a stairway) | |
| 9. | shaft - (architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column pillar, column - (architecture) a tall vertical cylindrical structure standing upright and used to support a structure upright, vertical - a vertical structural member as a post or stake; "the ball sailed between the uprights" architecture - the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings; "architecture and eloquence are mixed arts whose end is sometimes beauty and sometimes use" | |
| 10. | shaft - a long vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for a mine or tunnel downcast - a ventilation shaft through which air enters a mine mine - excavation in the earth from which ores and minerals are extracted passage - a way through or along which someone or something may pass tunnel - a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars); "the tunnel reduced congestion at that intersection" | |
| 11. | shaft - a revolving rod that transmits power or motion camshaft - has cams attached to it crankshaft - a rotating shaft driven by (or driving) a crank driveshaft - a rotating shaft that transmits power from the engine to the point of application rod - a long thin implement made of metal or wood rotating mechanism - a mechanism that rotates mandrel, mandril, arbor, spindle - any of various rotating shafts that serve as axes for larger rotating parts transmission shaft - rotating shaft that transmits rotary motion from the engine to the differential | |
| 12. | shaft - the hollow spine of a feather feather, plumage, plume - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds rib - a riblike supporting or strengthening part of an animal or plant | |
| Verb | 1. | shaft - equip with a shaft |
| 2. | shaft - defeat someone through trickery or deceit |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
shaft
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
shaft
nounThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
بَيْت المِصْعَد الكَهْرُبائيشُعاع الضّوءعَريش عَرَبَة الحِصانعَمود الأدارَهمِقْبَض خَشَبي طَويل
hřídelpaprsekšachtarukojeťnásada
akselskaftskaktstrålestribe
aisaakselihissikuilukaivoskuilukanava
kocsirúdvillásrúd
drifskaftljósgeisliskaft-stokkurvagnstöng
ienakotasšachtavelenas
assilksskātsšahtastars
hriadeľoje
shaft
[ʃɑːft]Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
shaft
n
→ Schaft m; (of tool, golf club etc) → Stiel m; (of cart, carriage) → Deichsel f; (of light) → Strahl m; (Mech) → Welle f; (liter: = arrow) → Pfeil m; (= spear) → Speer m; (fig: = remark) → Spitze f; shafts of wit → geistreiche Spitzen pl; the shafts of Cupid → Amors Pfeile pl
(of lift, mine etc) → Schacht m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
shaft
[ʃɑːft] nCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
shaft
(ʃaːft) noun1. the long straight part or handle of a tool, weapon etc. the shaft of a golf-club.
2. one of two poles on a cart etc to which a horse etc is harnessed. The horse stood patiently between the shafts.
3. a revolving bar transmitting motion in an engine. the driving-shaft.
4. a long, narrow space, made for eg a lift in a building. a liftshaft; a mineshaft.
5. a ray of light. a shaft of sunlight.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
shaft
n. caña. V.: diaphysis
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
shaft
n (hair, penis) talloEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.