wax Hear it!

wax¹ Definition

wax (waks)

noun

  1. a plastic, dull-yellow substance secreted by bees for building cells; beeswax: it is hard when cold and easily molded when warm, melts at c. 64.4°C (c. 148°F), cannot be dissolved in water, and is used for candles, modeling, etc.
  2. any plastic substance like this; specif.,
    1. paraffin
    2. a waxlike substance exuded by the ears; earwax; cerumen
    3. a waxy substance produced by scale insects
    4. any waxlike substance yielded by plants or animals
    5. a resinous substance used by shoemakers to rub on thread
    6. sealing wax
  3. any of a group of substances with a waxy appearance made up variously of esters, fatty acids, free alcohols, and solid hydrocarbons
  4. Etymology: from the wax cylinders formerly used for recording sound

    Informal a phonograph record: once common in put on wax, to make a phonograph record of

Etymology: ME < OE weax, akin to Ger wachs < IE *wokso- < *weg-, to weave, prob. < base *(a)we-, to weave

transitive verb

  1. to rub, polish, cover, smear, or treat with wax
  2. to remove unwanted hair from (the body) by applying a hot waxy substance
  3. Informal to make a phonograph record of

adjective

made of wax

wax¹ Related Forms
waxer noun wax·like′ adjective
wax² Definition

wax (waks)

intransitive verb waxed, wax·ing

  1. to grow gradually larger, more numerous, etc.; increase in strength, intensity, volume, etc.: said esp. of the visible face of the moon during the phases after new moon in which the lighted portion is gradually increasing from a thin crescent on the right, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere
    1. Literary to become; grow to wax angry
    2. to speak or express oneself he waxed on and on about his prowess

Etymology: ME waxen < OE weaxan, to grow, akin to Ger wachsen < IE *aweks- < base *aweg-, *aug- > eke, L augere, Gr auxein, to increase

wax³ Definition

wax (waks)

noun

Chiefly Brit., Informal a fit of anger or temper; a rage

Etymology: < ? wax, as in phr. wax angry

wax Synonyms

wax

n.

Waxes include: paraffin, resin, spermaceti, lanolin, petrolatum, petroleum jelly, candelilla, oxocerite, beeswax, honeycomb, sealing wax, earwax, cerumen, carnauba, automobile wax, floor wax, furniture polish.

wax Synonyms

wax

v.

  1. To increase

    become larger, swell, grow full; see grow 1.

  2. To apply wax

    polish, smooth, shine; see spread 4.

wax Usage Examples

Object

  • mustache: I get him with a faint impression of waxed mustache - a sort of foreign person - but I can't get more.

Converse of object

  • melt: Poured Wax Doll One made by pouring melted wax into a mold.
  • soften: Petroleum solvents are used to soften the wax into a spreadable paste, by preventing the individual molecules from bonding together.
  • seal: Tie bladder or run sealing wax over the corks, and store in a dry, cool place.

Adjective modifier

  • molten: Its paint is so creamy it's like molten wax.

Modifies a noun

  • crayon: In the early days the weather charts were drawn by hand with wax crayons.
  • polish: Furniture polish: A very basic wax polish can be produced from these.
  • candle: The tall wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it well.
  • moth: Finally, wax moth does not kill bees or infest strong colonies, only weak colonies that are dying out or stored frames.
  • cylinder: Early recordings of this type were made by a needle scratching a groove into a wax cylinder.

Adjective complement

  • lyrical: Why not get them to wax lyrical about your product or service on video?
  • indignant: She first proclaimed them dead, then waxes indignant because they are still alive.
  • eloquent: With the latter I waxed really eloquent, almost succeeding in reducing myself to tears in a mixture of emotion and baffled exasperation.
  • nostalgic: His column, titled " Trent Lott waxes nostalgic about the segregationist era " , stirred up the blogger community.

Noun used with modifier

  • carnauba: Unfortunately, much of what is advertised as carnauba wax these days is far from it.
  • paraffin: In order to reduce our paraffin wax dip stock.. .
  • carnuba: The same effect can often be achieved by layering carnuba wax over a synthetic sealant.
  • bikini: At the salon, she chose the Hollywood bikini wax, every single pubic hair removed.
  • candle: Place damp paper over candle wax to be removed.
  • surf: Surf wax and traction pads are used to keep a surfers feet from slipping off the deck of the board.
wax Quotes

Being kissed bya man who didn't wax his moustache wasölike eating an egg without salt.

—Kipling, (Joseph) Rudyard

We'll trot downtothemovies and seehowgirlswithwax faces live.

—Wilder,Thornton Niven

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

—Bible (Old Testament)

Instead of dirt and poison we have rather chosen to fill our hives with honeyand wax; thus furnishing mankind with the two noblest of things, which are sweetness and light.

—Swift,Jonathan

I that have loved thee thus before thou fadest, My faith shall wax, when thou art in thy waning. The world shall find this miracle in me, That fire can burn when all the matter's spent.

—Daniel, Samuel

   Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does his successive journeys run; His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

—Watts, Isaac

His heart was one of those which most enamour us, Wax to receive, and marble to retain.

—Rochdale

Browse dictionary entries near wax

  1. wawl
  2. wavy
  3. WAVES
  4. wavery
  5. wavering
  6. waver
  7. wavellite
  8. Wavell
  9. wavelet compression
  10. wavelet
  1. wax bean
  2. wax insect
  3. wax museum
  4. wax myrtle
  5. wax palm
  6. wax paper
  7. waxberry
  8. waxbill
  9. waxen
  10. waxiness