axel

noun

ax·​el ˈak-səl How to pronounce axel (audio) ˈäk- How to pronounce axel (audio)
often capitalized
: a jump in figure skating from the outer forward edge of one skate with 1¹/₂ turns taken in the air and a return to the outer backward edge of the other skate

Examples of axel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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An 18-year-old Button first came to prominence in 1948, winning Olympic gold in St. Moritz, Switzerland, by being the first skater to land a double axel in competition. David K. Li, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2025 The first feat came at the 1948 Olympic Winter Games in St. Moritz, where just two days prior to the free skate program, Button successfully completed a double axel for the first time. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 30 Jan. 2025 Spector undertakes something quite tricky here: a perspectival triple axel. Jesse Green, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2024 During the competition earlier this month, Glenn successfully performed a triple axel, her signature, as well as seven triple jumps. Rachel Flynn, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for axel 

Word History

Etymology

Axel Paulsen †1938 Norwegian figure skater

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of axel was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near axel

Cite this Entry

“Axel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/axel. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Biographical Definition

Axel

biographical name

Ax·​el ˈak-səl How to pronounce Axel (audio)
Richard 1946–     American biochemist

More from Merriam-Webster on axel

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