shaft

Pluralshafts

Formsshafts, shafting, shafted

1. 1
   elevatornouncountable

   The tall, narrow space inside a building where an elevator goes up and down.

   The elevator got stuck halfway up the shaft.

   The new tower has six elevator shafts.

   Similarliftshaft

2. 2
   minenouncountable

   A deep passage dug into the ground, straight down or at a slope, as part of a mine.

   The miners rode a cage down the shaft every morning.

   The hills are full of old shafts from the gold rush.

   Similarmineshaft

3. 3
   nouncountable

   Any long, thin object, like the handle of a tool.

   The wooden shaft of the hammer cracked when he hit the nail too hard.

   The broom has a long metal shaft and soft bristles.

   Similarhandle, rod, pole

   Note
4. 4
   turning rodnouncountable

   A long turning bar in a machine that passes power from one part to another.

   The motor turns a shaft that spins the fan blades.

   The mechanic replaced two worn shafts in the old tractor.

   Similardriveshaft

5. 5
   nouncountable

   The long, thin stick part of an arrow, spear, or javelin.

   The arrow's shaft was made of light wood.

   He painted stripes on the shafts of all his arrows.

   Similarhaft

6. 6
   cheatverbslangtransitive

   To treat someone very unfairly, often by tricking or cheating them.

   Don't let the landlord shaft you on the deposit.

   We got shafted when the company kept our money.

   Similardeceive, trick

   Note
7. 7
   light beamnounliterarycountable

   A beam of light, like sunlight coming through a window.

   A shaft of sunlight came through the gap in the curtains.

   Shafts of light fell through the trees onto the path.

   Similarbeam, ray, streak

   Note
8. 8
   air passagenouncountable

   A pipe or passage that brings fresh or warm air into a building.

   The cat crawled into the air shaft and wouldn't come out.

   Hot air rises through shafts in the walls to heat the upstairs rooms.

   Similarairduct

9. 9
   columnnouncountable

   A tall column, or the long middle part of a column between its top and bottom.

   The old church has a stone shaft carved with vines.

   The shafts of the columns are made of white marble.

   Similarcolumn, pillar

   Note
10. 10
    penisnouncountable

    The long main part of the penis.

    The doctor checked the skin on the shaft of the penis for a rash.

    Roll the condom all the way down to the base of the shaft.

    Note

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