shafts

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Long narrow poles or handles, especially the straight part of an arrow, spear, or tool.

   Grammar: Countable; usually plural when referring to more than one.

   Patterns

   • shafts of an arrow
   • wooden shafts

   The arrows had wooden shafts and sharp metal tips.

   He gripped the shaft of the spear tightly.

   The tool's shaft is made of strong plastic.

2. 2nouncountable

   A long, narrow, usually vertical passage or hole, such as a mine shaft or an elevator shaft.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'of' to show what it belongs to.

   Patterns

   • mine shaft
   • elevator shaft
   • air shaft

   The miners descended into the deep shaft.

   The building has a central shaft for the elevators.

   A ventilation shaft brings fresh air into the tunnel.

3. 3nouncountable

   A ray or beam of light.

   Grammar: Countable; often in the phrase 'shafts of light'.

   Patterns

   • shafts of light
   • a shaft of sunlight

   Shafts of sunlight came through the window.

   A single shaft of light lit the dark room.

   Dust danced in the golden shafts of light.

Word forms

Common combinations

shaft of light

A shaft of light fell across the floor.

mine shaft

The old mine shaft was blocked.

elevator shaft

The elevator shaft needs repairs.

arrow shaft

He replaced the broken arrow shaft.

Synonyms and how they differ

beam

Often used for a ray of light; 'shaft' is more literary or suggests a narrow, defined ray.

pole

A long, thin, usually rounded piece of wood or metal; 'shaft' often refers to the handle or straight part of a tool or weapon.

Word family

shaft noun

The singular form.

shafting noun

Material for shafts, or a system of shafts.

Commonly confused: shafts or shaft? shafts or shift?

Practice

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