Shaft: meaning, definitions and examples

⚙️
Add to dictionary

shaft

 

[ ʃɑːft ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

mechanical

A long, narrow, typically vertical hole that gives access to a mine, accommodates a lift, or provides ventilation.

Synonyms

passage, tunnel, well

Examples of usage

  • The miners descended the shaft to reach the coal seam below.
  • The elevator in the building runs through the central shaft.
Context #2 | Noun

weapon

A long, narrow part or structure that is designed to be thrown, as a spear or arrow.

Synonyms

arrow, dart, spear

Examples of usage

  • He hurled the shaft towards the target.
  • The ancient warriors used wooden shafts for hunting.
Context #3 | Noun

car part

The rotating rod or axle that a wheel revolves around.

Synonyms

axle, rotor, spindle

Examples of usage

  • The mechanic replaced the damaged shaft in the car.
  • The shaft of the vehicle was causing the vibration.

Translations

Translations of the word "shaft" in other languages:

🇵🇹 eixo

🇮🇳 शाफ़्ट

🇩🇪 Welle

🇮🇩 poros

🇺🇦 вал

🇵🇱 wał

🇯🇵 シャフト (shafuto)

🇫🇷 arbre

🇪🇸 eje

🇹🇷 şaft

🇰🇷 축 (chuk)

🇸🇦 عمود

🇨🇿 hřídel

🇸🇰 hriadeľ

🇨🇳 轴 (zhóu)

🇸🇮 gred

🇮🇸 ás

🇰🇿 білік

🇬🇪 ღერძი (γerdzi)

🇦🇿 şaft

🇲🇽 eje

Etymology

The word 'shaft' originated from the Old English word 'sceaft', meaning 'handle' or 'pole'. Over time, it evolved to refer to various long, narrow objects such as mining shafts, weapon shafts, and car shafts. The versatility of the word reflects its adaptability across different fields and industries.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,850, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.