Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

longitudinal-axis

noun

/lɒndʒɪˈtjuːdɪnəl ˈæksɪs/

Definition

The longitudinal axis refers to an imaginary line that runs lengthwise through an object, usually from front to back, which can be used for rotational movements or spatial reference.

Examples

The longitudinal axis of the car extends from the front bumper to the rear bumper.
In a human body, the longitudinal axis may refer to the alignment of the spine.
When designing the spacecraft, engineers focused on the longitudinal axis to optimize stability during flight.

Meaning

In geometry and anatomy, the longitudinal axis is often employed to describe orientation, motion, or organization in a linear fashion from one end of an object to the other.