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Definition of pickax

pickax

/ˈpɪk.æks/
(UK: pickaxe)
pick · ax
Plural:pickaxes
•
Past Simple:pickaxed
•
Past Participle:pickaxed
•
Present Participle:pickaxing
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pickax Lexical Profile

pickax Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A heavy hand tool consisting of a curved metal head with a sharp point at one end and a flat chisel blade at the other, mounted at right angles to a long wooden handle, used for breaking up hard ground, rock, or concrete.

Example

"The miners swung their heavy pickaxes to loosen the compacted soil and gravel."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

American To break up, dig, or strike a hard surface using a pickax.

Example

"The crew spent all morning pickaxing through the frozen clay to lay the new water pipe."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for pickax

• Nearby Words

pichuberry
pick
pickable
pickax
pickaxe
picker
pickerel

Word Origin & Etymology

Dating back to around 1300 as Middle English 'pikois', the word was borrowed from Old French 'picois' (pickax), derived from 'pic' (sharp point or pike). Its second syllable was later altered to '-ax' (or '-axe') through folk etymology by association with the chopping tool.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Pickax. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/pickax
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