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wax
1[waks]
noun
Also called beeswax.a solid, yellowish, nonglycerine substance allied to fats and oils, secreted by bees, plastic when warm and melting at about 145°F, variously employed in making candles, models, casts, ointments, etc., and used by bees in constructing their honeycomb.
any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants.
any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures.
a resinous substance used by shoemakers for rubbing thread.
a person or object suggesting wax, as in manageability or malleability.
I am helpless wax in your hands.
verb (used with object)
to rub, smear, stiffen, polish, etc., with wax.
to wax the floor.
to fill the crevices of (ornamental marble) with colored material.
Informal.to make a phonograph recording of.
Slang.to defeat decisively; drub.
We waxed the competition.
adjective
pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax.
a wax candle; a wax doll.
wax
2[waks]
verb (used without object)
to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc..
Discord waxed at an alarming rate.
Synonyms: , , , ,(of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon.
to grow or become.
He waxed angry at the insinuation.
wax
3[waks]
noun
a fit of anger; rage.
wax
1/ æ /
noun
any of various viscous or solid materials of natural origin: characteristically lustrous, insoluble in water, and having a low softening temperature, they consist largely of esters of fatty acids
any of various similar substances, such as paraffin wax or ozocerite, that have a mineral origin and consist largely of hydrocarbons
short for beeswax sealing wax
physiol another name for cerumen
a resinous preparation used by shoemakers to rub on thread
a mixture of wax, oil, and carbolic acid applied to the cut surface of a bone to prevent bleeding
any substance or object that is pliable or easily moulded
he was wax in the hands of the political bosses
(modifier) made of or resembling wax
a wax figure
the act or an instance of removing body hair by coating it with warm wax, applying a strip of fabric, and then removing the fabric sharply, thereby plucking the hairs out by their roots
verb
(tr) to coat, polish, etc, with wax
to remove (body hair) by means of a wax treatment
wax
2/ æ /
verb
to become larger, more powerful, etc
(of the moon) to show a gradually increasing portion of illuminated surface, between new moon and full moon Compare wane
archaicto become as specified
the time waxed late
wax
3/ æ /
noun
informala fit of rage or temper
he's in a wax today
wax
Any of various solid, usually yellow substances that melt or soften easily when heated. They are similar to fats, but are less greasy and more brittle. Naturally occurring animal and plant waxes are esters of saturated fatty acids and alcohols of high molecular weight, including sterols. Waxes are also manufactured synthetically from petroleum, and are used to make polishers, lubricants, coatings, waterproofing, crayons, candles, and many other products.
Other 51Թ Forms
- waxable adjective
- waxlike adjective
- ˈɲˌ adjective
- ˈɲ noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of wax1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of wax1
Origin of wax2
Origin of wax3
Idioms and Phrases
whole ball of wax,
the entire or overall plan, concept, action, result, or the like.
The first ten minutes of the meeting will determine the whole ball of wax.
everything of a similar or related nature.
They sold us skis, boots, bindings, poles—the whole ball of wax.
Example Sentences
The rookie artists waxed it at an obscure recording studio at their own expense.
But it wasn't a new England, it was a "vintage" England, according to Bardsley, who was waxing lyrical by the time the fifth goal came in only the 33rd minute, sealing a treble for Beever-Jones.
The spa also offers a full menu of services, including massages, waxing, manicures, and pedicures.
The front desk noted that the guest "always spills candle wax on everything" and uses excessive amounts of oil.
However, Wales can take comfort from the waxing and waning of other nations' fortunes.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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