shaft

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Architecture

n. a long, vertical opening through a building or the ground.

n. a vertical or inclined passage, such as those used for elevators, ventilation, or access to a mine.

“The workers had to climb down the ventilation shaft to fix the fan.”

“The architect designed a central light shaft to ensure that even the innermost offices received a degree of natural illumination during the day.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Literary

n. a single beam or ray of light.

n. a distinct beam or ray of light, often seen piercing through darkness or clouds.

“A shaft of sunlight came through the window and lit up the dust in the air.”

“A single shaft of golden light broke through the heavy canopy, illuminating the forest floor where the deer stood perfectly still.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technology Technical

n. a rotating rod in a machine that carries power.

n. a rotating mechanical component, usually circular in cross-section, used to transmit power or motion.

“The drive shaft connects the engine to the wheels of the car.”

“The engineers identified a hairline fracture in the main drive shaft, which explained the unusual vibration reported by the pilot during takeoff.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Medicine Technical

n. the main, long part of certain body parts, like a bone or the penis.

n. the midsection or main cylindrical portion of an anatomical structure, such as a long bone or the penis.

“The X-ray showed a clean break in the shaft of the femur.”

“The surgeon noted that the fracture was located mid-shaft, requiring the insertion of a titanium rod to stabilise the bone during recovery.”

C1 · Advanced Informal · Slang

v. to treat someone very unfairly or trick them.

v. to treat someone with extreme unfairness or to cheat them, often in a business or social context.

“He really got shafted by his business partner, who took all the money.”

“The junior employees felt they had been shafted when the company cancelled their bonuses despite record-breaking annual profits.”

C2 · Proficiency Slang · Vulgar

v. a very rude word for having sex.

v. to engage in sexual intercourse; highly informal and often considered aggressive or crude.

“He was bragging about who he shafted last night.”

“The dialogue in the film was criticised for its reliance on vulgarities, including several graphic uses of the word shafted.”