From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishRelated topics: Toolspickaxepick‧axe British English, pickax American English /ˈpɪk-æks/ noun [countable]TZa large tool that you use for breaking up the ground. It consists of a curvedironbar with a sharp point on each end and a long handle.Examples from the Corpuspickaxe• Two campesinos passed, a pickaxesticking out of one of their bundles.• Laing used a pickaxe and shovel to make the grave in the secluded garden, said Mr Stuart-Moore.• Another boy is hitting the ground with a pickaxe, while a third is holding on to some blueplasticsheeting.• Before running off with the dough the men beat my arms with pickaxe handles.