grammar: one or more sounds or letters occurring as a bound form attached to the beginning or end of a word, base, or phrase or inserted within a word or base and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form
fasten implies an action such as tying, buttoning, nailing, locking, or otherwise securing.
fasten the reins to a post
fix usually implies a driving in, implanting, or embedding.
fixed the stake in the ground
attach suggests a connecting or uniting by a bond, link, or tie in order to keep things together.
attach the W-2 form here
affix implies an imposing of one thing on another by gluing, impressing, or nailing.
affix your address label here
Example Sentences
Verbaffix a first-class stamp to the envelope
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Starting from the top, use a nail gun to affix the planks, making sure to hit a stud. Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Aug. 2022 The system tracks data on a skier’s stamina, turn quality, ski-to-snow engagement, style, and body position with a set of sensors that affix to the user’s skis and chest. Tracy Ross, Outside Online, 4 Feb. 2022 Here are directions on how to affix your rider number to your bike. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Ben Simonds, showing several wide-eyed visitors how to affix their 60-pound oxygen tanks to a breathing mask before scaling ladders into a second story mock-fire while gripping either a broad-axe or pike. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 The signature libations affix Asian accents to the classics. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 22 July 2022 Turn the remaining pumpkin quarters face down and use the hot glue to affix three pumpkin seeds to each to resemble claws. Charlyne Mattox, Country Living, 15 July 2022 This isn’t to affix perpetual halos above the whole sport — NWSL was plagued last year by allegations of abuse by several former coaches — or Wave players, or imply the games are sisterly exhibitions. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2022 Not to mention, brands like Prada, Marni, and Dior have also created necklaces to affix your pods too. Madeline Fass, Vogue, 5 July 2022
Noun
Use strips of hook-and-loop tape, such as Velcro, to affix cushions and pillows to the base of outdoor seating. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 At each work-station, crews affix parts and the Lightnings begin to assume their familiar boxy shape. John Seabrook, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022 Breyer has long been an outspoken defender of the Supreme Court as a nonpartisan institution and bristled at the labels of 'liberal' and 'conservative' that many commentators and the media affix to individual justices. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2021 The contraption itself, which looks like an infant bouncer, affixes to the bulkhead. Sarah Firshein, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Sep. 2019 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
borrowed from Latin affīxus, past participle of affīgere "to fasten (to), attach," from ad-ad- + fīgere "to drive in, insert" — more at fix entry 1
Noun
borrowed from Middle French affixe "notice, placard, element added to the base or stem of a word (originally in Hebrew grammar)," borrowed from Latin affīxus, past participle of affīgere "to fasten (to), attach" — more at affix entry 1