# shaft

/ˈʃæft/ (US) · /ʃˈɑːft/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shaft
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. long handle or body

noun · CEFR B2

the long, thin part of a tool, weapon, or golf club.

For teachers: the long, narrow, central body of an object, such as the handle of a tool or the main part of an arrow or spear.

- He gripped the wooden shaft of the axe firmly before swinging it at the log.
- The carbon-fibre shaft of the new driver is designed to increase swing speed while maintaining structural rigidity under high torque.

### 2. vertical passage

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. beam of light

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a single beam or ray of light.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. mechanical part

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a rotating rod in a machine that carries power.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. anatomy

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

### 6. to treat unfairly

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to treat someone very unfairly or trick them.

For teachers: 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.

### 7. sexual intercourse

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude word for having sex.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- A shaft of sunlight shines through the window.
- The workers descended into the mine shaft to begin their morning shift deep underground.
- The architect designed a central ventilation shaft to ensure that fresh air circulated through every floor of the high-rise building without relying solely on mechanical systems.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.