wax
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Related to waxes: Steroids
wax 1
(wăks)n.
1.
a. Any of various natural, oily or greasy heat-sensitive substances, consisting of hydrocarbons or esters of fatty acids that are insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar organic solvents.
b. Beeswax.
c. Earwax.
2.
a. A solid plastic or pliable liquid substance, such as ozocerite or paraffin, originating from petroleum and found in rock layers and used in paper coating, as insulation, in crayons, and often in medicinal preparations.
b. A preparation containing wax used for polishing floors and other surfaces.
3. A resinous mixture used by shoemakers to rub on thread.
4. A cosmetic procedure in which facial or body hair is removed by peeling away a layer of wax that has been allowed to harden.
adj.
Made of wax: a wax candle.
tr.v. waxed, wax·ing, wax·es
Idiom: 1. To coat, treat, or polish with wax.
2.
a. To remove (facial or body hair) by covering the skin with a layer of wax that is peeled off after hardening, uprooting the encased hairs.
b. To remove hair from (a portion of the body) by this method.
on wax
Informal In the medium of phonograph recordings.
[Middle English, from Old English weax.]
wax 2
(wăks)intr.v. waxed, wax·ing, wax·es
Phrasal Verb: 1. To increase gradually in size, number, strength, or intensity: "His love affair with Mrs. Bernstein waxed and waned and waxed again" (C. Hugh Holman).
2. To show a progressively larger illuminated area, as the moon does in passing from new to full.
3.
a. To grow or become as specified: "His very body had waxed old in lowly service of the Lord" (James Joyce).
b. To speak or write as specified: "[He] warmed to his most favorite of subjects, waxed eloquent, gained in his face a glow of passion" (Paul J. Willis).
wax on
To speak or write at length about something: "Mason waxed on and on about the old days" (Jennifer Cruisie).
wax 3
(wăks)n. Chiefly British
A fit of anger: "All at once you would suddenly find yourself reverting to childish attitudes, flaring up in a wax with some fellow" (Frank O'Connor).
[Perhaps from wax (as in archaic to wax angry, to grow angry).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
wax
(wæks)n
1. (Elements & Compounds) 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
2. (Elements & Compounds) any of various similar substances, such as paraffin wax or ozocerite, that have a mineral origin and consist largely of hydrocarbons
3. (Elements & Compounds) short for beeswax, sealing wax
4. (Physiology) physiol another name for cerumen
5. (Elements & Compounds) a resinous preparation used by shoemakers to rub on thread
6. (Pharmacology) bone wax a mixture of wax, oil, and carbolic acid applied to the cut surface of a bone to prevent bleeding
7. any substance or object that is pliable or easily moulded: he was wax in the hands of the political bosses.
8. (modifier) made of or resembling wax: a wax figure.
9. (Hairdressing & Grooming) 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
vb
10. (tr) to coat, polish, etc, with wax
11. (Hairdressing & Grooming) to remove (body hair) by means of a wax treatment
[Old English weax, related to Old Saxon, Old High German wahs, Old Norse vax]
ˈwaxer n
ˈwaxˌlike adj
wax
(wæks)vb (intr)
1. to become larger, more powerful, etc
2. (Astronomy) (of the moon) to show a gradually increasing portion of illuminated surface, between new moon and full moon. Compare wane1
3. archaic to become as specified: the time waxed late.
[Old English weaxan; related to Old Frisian waxa, Old Saxon, Old High German wahsan, Gothic wahsjan]
wax
(wæks)n
informal old-fashioned Brit a fit of rage or temper: he's in a wax today.
[of obscure origin; perhaps from the phrase to wax angry]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
wax1
(wæks)n.
1. Also called beeswax. a solid, yellowish, nonglycerine substance allied to fats and oils, secreted by bees in constructing their honeycomb, used in making candles, casts, ointments, etc.
2. any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants.
3. any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures.
4. cerumen; earwax.
5. a resinous substance used by shoemakers for rubbing thread.
6. sealing wax.
7. Slang. a phonograph record.
v.t. 8. to rub, polish, etc., with wax.
9. Slang. to defeat decisively; drub: We waxed the competition.
10. Slang. to make a phonograph recording of.
adj. 11. pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax.
[before 900; Middle English wex, waxe, Old English weax, c. Old Saxon, Old High German wahs, Old Norse vax, Old Church Slavonic voskŭ, Lithuanian vãškas]
wax′a•ble, adj.
wax2
(wæks)v.i.
1. to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.
2. (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. Compare wane (def. 4).
3. to grow or become: to wax resentful.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English weaxan to grow, wax, c. Old Saxon, Old High German wahsan, Old Norse vaxa, Gothic wahsjan; akin to waist]
wax3
(wæks)n. Brit.
a fit of anger.
[1850–55]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
wax
(wăks) Any of various solid, usually yellow substances that melt or soften easily when heated. Waxes are produced in nature by various animals and plants, or are made artificially. They are similar to fats, but are less greasy and more brittle.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Wax
1. the art or process of writing or engraving on wax.
2. Rare. the art or process of making paintings with colors mixed with beeswax and fixed with heat; encaustic painting. — cerographist, n. — cero-graphic, cerographical, adj.
2. Rare. the art or process of making paintings with colors mixed with beeswax and fixed with heat; encaustic painting. — cerographist, n. — cero-graphic, cerographical, adj.
a form of divination involving dropping melted wax into water.
the art of modeling with wax. — ceroplastic, adj.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
wax
Past participle: waxed
Gerund: waxing
| Imperative |
|---|
| wax |
| wax |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  wax - any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in waterbayberry tallow, bayberry wax - a fragrant green wax obtained from the wax myrtle and used in making candles carnauba, carnauba wax - hard yellowish to brownish wax from leaves of the carnauba palm used especially in floor waxes and polishes candelilla wax - a hard brown wax that occurs as a coating on candelilla shrubs ceresin - a white wax extracted from ozokerite floor wax - a preparation containing wax and used to polish and preserve the finish of floors fig wax, gondang wax - a hard cream-colored wax obtained from a Javanese fig tree Japan tallow, Japan wax - a yellow wax obtained from sumac berries; used in polishes lipid, lipide, lipoid - an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates) montan wax - a hard wax obtained from lignite pisang wax - a wax obtained from the leaves of a plantain paraffin scale, scale wax - partly refined paraffin wax ski wax - wax used on the bottom of skis beeswax - a yellow to brown wax secreted by honeybees to build honeycombs paraffin, paraffin wax - from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings spermaceti - a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale vegetable wax - a waxy substance obtained from plants (especially from the trunks of certain palms) lac wax, shellac wax - a hard wax separated from shellac by its insolubility in alcohol |
| Verb | 1. |  wax - cover with wax; "wax the car" beeswax - cover with beeswax; "Chris beeswaxed the kitchen table" cover - provide with a covering or cause to be covered; "cover her face with a handkerchief"; "cover the child with a blanket"; "cover the grave with flowers" |
| 2. | wax - go up or advance; "Sales were climbing after prices were lowered" jump - increase suddenly and significantly; "Prices jumped overnight" increase - become bigger or greater in amount; "The amount of work increased" wane - become smaller; "Interest in his novels waned" | |
| 3. | wax - increase in phase; "the moon is waxing" increase - become bigger or greater in amount; "The amount of work increased" wane - decrease in phase; "the moon is waning" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
wax
verb
1. increase, rise, grow, develop, mount, expand, swell, enlarge, fill out, magnify, get bigger, dilate, become larger Portugal and Spain had vast empires which waxed and waned.
increase contract, decline, narrow, fade, shrink, diminish, decrease, dwindle, lessen, wane
increase contract, decline, narrow, fade, shrink, diminish, decrease, dwindle, lessen, wane
2. become fuller, become larger, enlarge, get bigger One should plant seeds and cuttings when the moon is waxing.
wax lyrical enthuse, rave, gush, get carried away, become enthusiastic He waxed lyrical about the loyalty of his employees.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
wax
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
شَمْعشَمْع الأذُنشَمْع الخَتْمشَمْعي، مَصْنوع من الشَّمْعمادَّةٌ شَمْعِيَّه لِتَلْميع الأثاث
восък
vosk
voksvoksebivoksørevokssegllak
vaksa
poonimisvahavaha
vahavahatakasvaapoistaasavikiekko
vosak
viasz
lilinmalam
vaxvaxa, aukast, stækkavaxbera, bónaeyrnamergurgljávax, bón
蝋
밀랍
cera
augtaugt un diltievaskotsērsspodrināšanas ziede
cearăcera
dorastaťušný mazvoskvoskovať
vosek
vax
ขี้ผึ้ง
sáp ong
wax
1 [wæks]B. ADJ → de cera
C. VT [+ furniture, car] → encerar
wax
2 [wæks] VI [moon] → crecerto wax and wane → crecer y decrecer
to wax enthusiastic (o.f. or hum) → entusiasmarse
to wax eloquent about sth → ponerse elocuente acerca de algo
see also lyrical
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
wax
[ˈwæks]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
wax
:wax bean
n (US) → Wachsbohne f
wax candle
n → Wachskerze f
wax doll
n → Wachspuppe f
wax
:wax museum
n (esp US) → Wachsfigurenkabinett nt
wax paper
n → Wachspapier nt
waxwork
n → Wachsfigur f
waxworks
n sing or pl → Wachsfigurenkabinett nt
wax
1wax
2Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
wax
1 [wæks]2. adj → di cera
3. vt (furniture, car) → dare la cera a; (skis) → sciolinare
wax
2 [wæks] vi (moon) → crescereto wax enthusiastic → diventare entusiasta
to wax eloquent about sth → diventare infervorato/a nel parlare di qc
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
wax1
(wӕks) noun1. the sticky, fatty substance of which bees make their cells; beeswax.
2. the sticky, yellowish substance formed in the ears.
3. a manufactured, fatty substance used in polishing, to give a good shine. furniture wax.
4. (also adjective) (also ˈcandle-wax) (of) a substance made from paraffin, used in making candles, models etc, that melts when heated. a wax model.
5. sealing-wax.
verb to smear, polish or rub with wax.
waxed adjective having a coating of wax. waxed paper.
ˈwaxen, ˈwaxy adjectiveˈwaxwork noun
a wax model (usually of a well-known person).
ˈwaxworks noun plural an exhibition of such models.
wax2
(wӕks) verb1. (of the moon) to appear to grow in size as more of it becomes visible.
2. an old word for to grow or increase.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
wax
→ شَمْع vosk voks Wachs κερί cera vaha cire vosak cera 蝋 밀랍 was voks wosk cera воск vax ขี้ผึ้ง balmumu sáp ong 蜡Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
wax
n. cera.
1. cera producida por abejas;
2. secreción cerosa;
ear ___ → ___ del oído;
3. cerumen, sustancia de origen animal, vegetal o mineral que se emplea en preparaciones de pomadas y ceratos;
depilatory ___ → ___ depilatoria.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
wax
n cera; ear — cerumen m (form), cera de los oídosEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.