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