Adjacent Words

Wax definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

WAX, n. [G., L.]
1. A thick, viscid, tenacious substance, collected by bees, or excreted from their bodies, and employed in the construction of their cells; usually called bees wax. Its native color is yellow, but it is bleached for candles, etc.
2. A thick tenacious substance excreted in the ear.
3. A substance secreted by certain plants, forming a silvery powder on the leaves and fruit, as in the wax-palm and wax-myrtle.
4. A substance found on the hinder legs of bees, which is supposed to be their food.
5. A substance used in sealing letters; called sealing-wax, or Spanish wax. This is a composition of gum-lacca and resin, colored with some pigment.
6. A thick substance used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread.
WAX, v.t. To smear or rub with wax; as, to wax, a thread or a table.
WAX, v.i. pret. waxed.; pp. waxed or waxen. [G., L., Gr.]
1. To increase in size; to grow; to become larger; as the waxing and the waning moon.
2. To pass from one state to another; to become; as, to wax strong; to wax warm or cold; to wax feeble; to wax hot; to wax old; to wax worse and worse.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water v
1: cover with wax; "wax the car"
2: go up or advance; "Sales were climbing after prices were lowered" [syn: wax, mount, climb, rise] [ant: wane]
3: increase in phase; "the moon is waxing" [syn: wax, full] [ant: wane]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weax; akin to Old High German wahs wax, Lithuanian vaškas Date: before 12th century 1. a substance that is secreted by bees and is used by them for constructioncting the honeycomb, that is a dull yellow solid plastic when warm, and that is composed of a mixture of esters, cerotic acid, and hydrocarbons — called also beeswax 2. any of various substances resembling the wax of bees: as a. any of numerous substances of plant or animal origin that differ from fats in being less greasy, harder, and more brittle and in containing principally compounds of high molecular weight (as fatty acids, alcohols, and saturated hydrocarbons) b. a solid substance (as ozokerite or paraffin wax) of mineral origin consisting usually of hydrocarbons of high molecular weight c. a pliable or liquid composition used especially in uniting surfaces, excluding air, making patterns or impressions, or producing a polished surface 3. something likened to wax as soft, impressionable, or readily molded 4. a waxy secretion; especially earwax 5. a phonograph recording • waxlike adjective II. transitive verb Date: 14th century 1. a. to treat or rub with wax usually for polishing, stiffening, or reducing friction b. to apply wax to (as legs) as a depilatory 2. to record on phonograph records 3. slang to defeat decisively (as in an athletic contest) III. intransitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English weaxan; akin to Old High German wahsan to increase, Greek auxanein, Latin aug?re — more at eke Date: before 12th century 1. a. to increase in size, numbers, strength, prosperity, or intensity b. to grow in volume or duration c. to grow toward full development 2. to increase in phase or intensity — used chiefly of the moon, other satellites, and inferior planets 3. to assume a (specified) characteristic, quality, or state ; become <wax indignant> <wax poetic> IV. noun Date: 14th century increase, growth — usually used in the phrase on the wax V. noun Etymology: perhaps from ³wax Date: 1854 a fit of temper ; rage

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 a sticky plastic yellowish substance secreted by bees as the material of honeycomb cells; beeswax. 2 a white translucent material obtained from this by bleaching and purifying and used for candles, in modelling, as a basis of polishes, and for other purposes. 3 any similar substance, e.g. earwax. 4 colloq. a a gramophone record. b material for the manufacture of this. 5 (attrib.) made of wax. --v.tr. 1 cover or treat with wax. 2 colloq. record for the gramophone. Phrases and idioms: be wax in a person's hands be entirely subservient to a person. lost wax = CIRE PERDUE. wax-light a taper or candle of wax. wax-myrtle a tree, Myrtus cerifera, yielding wax and oil used for candles. wax-painting = ENCAUSTIC. wax palm 1 a South American palm, Ceroxylon alpinum, with its stem coated in a mixture of resin and wax. 2 a carnauba. wax paper paper waterproofed with a layer of wax. wax-pod a yellow-podded bean. wax-tree an Asian tree, Rhus succedanea, having white berries which yield wax. Derivatives: waxer n. Etymology: OE wæx, weax f. Gmc 2. v.intr. 1 (of the moon between new and full) have a progressively larger part of its visible surface illuminated, increasing in apparent size. 2 become larger or stronger. 3 pass into a specified state or mood (wax lyrical). Phrases and idioms: wax and wane undergo alternate increases and decreases. Etymology: OE weaxan f. Gmc 3. n. sl. a fit of anger. Etymology: 19th c.: orig. uncert.: perh. f. WAX(2) wroth etc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Wax Wax, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk'.] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; -- usually called beeswax. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow. Note: Beeswax consists essentially of cerotic acid (constituting the more soluble part) and of myricyl palmitate (constituting the less soluble part). 2. Hence, any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance. Specifically: (a) (Physiol.) Cerumen, or earwax. See Cerumen. (b) A waxlike composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as, sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc. (c) A waxlike composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread. (d) (Zo["o]l.) A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See Wax insect, below. (e) (Bot.) A waxlike product secreted by certain plants. See Vegetable wax, under Vegetable. (f) (Min.) A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; -- called also mineral wax, and ozocerite. (g) Thick sirup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling. [Local U. S.] Japanese wax, a waxlike substance made in Japan from the berries of certain species of Rhus, esp. R. succedanea. Mineral wax. (Min.) See Wax, 2 (f), above. Wax cloth. See Waxed cloth, under Waxed. Wax end. See Waxed end, under Waxed. Wax flower, a flower made of, or resembling, wax. Wax insect (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of scale insects belonging to the family Coccid[ae], which secrete from their bodies a waxlike substance, especially the Chinese wax insect (Coccus Sinensis) from which a large amount of the commercial Chinese wax is obtained. Called also pela. Wax light, a candle or taper of wax. Wax moth (Zo["o]l.), a pyralid moth (Galleria cereana) whose larv[ae] feed upon honeycomb, and construct silken galleries among the fragments. The moth has dusky gray wings streaked with brown near the outer edge. The larva is yellowish white with brownish dots. Called also bee moth. Wax myrtle. (Bot.) See Bayberry. Wax painting, a kind of painting practiced by the ancients, under the name of encaustic. The pigments were ground with wax, and diluted. After being applied, the wax was melted with hot irons and the color thus fixed. Wax palm. (Bot.) (a) A species of palm (Ceroxylon Andicola) native of the Andes, the stem of which is covered with a secretion, consisting of two thirds resin and one third wax, which, when melted with a third of fat, makes excellent candles. (b) A Brazilian tree (Copernicia cerifera) the young leaves of which are covered with a useful waxy secretion. Wax paper, paper prepared with a coating of white wax and other ingredients. Wax plant (Bot.), a name given to several plants, as: (a) The Indian pipe (see under Indian). (b) The Hoya carnosa, a climbing plant with polished, fleshy leaves. (c) Certain species of Begonia with similar foliage. Wax tree (Bot.) (a) A tree or shrub (Ligustrum lucidum) of China, on which certain insects make a thick deposit of a substance resembling white wax. (b) A kind of sumac (Rhus succedanea) of Japan, the berries of which yield a sort of wax. (c) A rubiaceous tree (El[ae]agia utilis) of New Grenada, called by the inhabitants ``arbol del cera.'' Wax yellow, a dull yellow, resembling the natural color of beeswax.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Wax Wax, v. i. [imp. Waxed; p. p. Waxed, and Obs. or Poetic Waxen; p. pr. & vb. n. Waxing.] [AS. weaxan; akin to OFries. waxa, D. wassen, OS. & OHG. wahsan, G. wachsen, Icel. vaxa, Sw. v["a]xa, Dan. voxe, Goth. wahsjan, Gr. ? to increase, Skr. waksh, uksh, to grow. ???. Cf. Waist.] 1. To increase in size; to grow bigger; to become larger or fuller; -- opposed to wane. The waxing and the waning of the moon. --Hakewill. Truth's treasures . . . never shall wax ne wane. --P. Plowman. 2. To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong; to wax warmer or colder; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse. Your clothes are not waxen old upon you. --Deut. xxix. 5. Where young Adonis oft reposes, Waxing well of his deep wound. --Milton. Waxing kernels (Med.), small tumors formed by the enlargement of the lymphatic glands, especially in the groins of children; -- popularly so called, because supposed to be caused by growth of the body. --Dunglison.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Wax Wax, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Waxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Waxing.] To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax a thread or a table. Waxed cloth, cloth covered with a coating of wax, used as a cover, of tables and for other purposes; -- called also wax cloth. Waxed end, a thread pointed with a bristle and covered with shoemaker's wax, used in sewing leather, as for boots, shoes, and the like; -- called also wax end. --Brockett.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(waxes, waxing, waxed) 1. Wax is a solid, slightly shiny substance made of fat or oil which is used to make candles and polish. It melts when it is heated. There were coloured candles which had spread pools of wax on the furniture... She loved the scent in the house of wax polish. N-MASS 2. If you wax a surface, you put a thin layer of wax onto it, especially in order to polish it. We'd have long talks while she helped me wax the floor. VERB: V n 3. If you have your legs waxed, you have the hair removed from your legs by having wax put on them and then pulled off quickly. She has just had her legs waxed at the local beauty parlour... She could go shopping, and wax her legs. VERB: have n V-ed, V n 4. Wax is the sticky yellow substance found in your ears. 5. If you say that someone, for example, waxes lyrical or waxes indignant about a subject, you mean that they talk about it in an enthusiastic or indignant way. He waxed lyrical about the skills and commitment of his employees... My mother waxed eloquent on the theme of wifely duty. VERB: V adj, V adj 6. If something waxes and wanes, it first increases and then decreases over a period of time. Portugal and Spain had possessed vast empires that waxed and waned. PHRASE: Vs inflect

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Made by melting the combs of bees. Mentioned (Ps. 22:14; 68:2; 97:5; Micah 1:4) in illustration.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

waks:

(1) Noun (donagh): Used only in a simile of melting (Ps 22:14; 68:2; 97:5; Mic 1:4).

See WRITING.

(2) A now archaic verb, meaning "to grow," used freely in English Versions of the Bible as a translation of various terms in Greek and Hebrew. The past participle in the King James Version and the English Revised Version is "waxen," except in Ge 18:12. There (and throughout in the American Standard Revised Version) the form is "waxed."

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. Cere, smear with wax. II. v. n. 1. Increase (as the moon), become larger, become fuller. 2. Grow, become, come to be, get to be.

Moby Thesaurus

accrue, accumulate, advance, aluminum oxide, ambergris, anoint, antifriction, appreciate, augment, auto polish, balloon, bear fruit, beeswax, black lead, bloat, bloom, blossom, blubber, boom, boost, breakthrough, breed, breeze, brew, broaden, buff, build, burgeon, burnish, butter, candelilla wax, carnauba wax, cartridge, cassette, cat fit, cerate, ceresin, clay, colcothar, come, come over, conniption, conniption fit, convulsion, corundum, crescendo, crocus, cushion, daub, develop, disc, dough, down, dress, duck fit, eiderdown, electrical transcription, embrocate, emery, emery board, emery paper, enlarge, evolute, evolve, expand, feather bed, feathers, fig wax, file, finish, fit, fit of anger, fit of temper, fleece, floor wax, floss, flourish, flower, flue, fluff, foam, fossil wax, furbish, gain, gain strength, garnet, gather, germinate, get, get ahead, glance, glaze, gloss, glycerin, glycerolate, go, go up, gondang wax, graphite, grease, grease the wheels, grow, grow up, hike, hypertrophy, increase, intensify, kapok, lac wax, lard, lubricant, lubricate, lubricating oil, lubricator, luster, maturate, mature, mellow, mineral wax, mount, mucilage, mucus, multiply, mushroom, nail file, oil, outgrow, overdevelop, overgrow, overtop, ozokerite, paraffin scale, paraffin wax, paroxysm, phonograph record, pillow, plumbago, plush, polish, polishes, pomade, procreate, progress, proliferate, pudding, puff, pullulate, pumice, pumice stone, putty, rage, rasp, record, recording, reproduce, ripen, rise, rottenstone, rouge, rub, rubber, run, run up, salve, sandpaper, satin, scale wax, scour, sealing wax, shine, shoe polish, shoot up, silicon carbide, silicone, silk, silver polish, ski wax, sleek, slick, slick down, slick on, smear, smooth the way, snowball, soap the ways, spread, spring up, sprout, sprout up, strengthen, swansdown, swell, tantrum, tape, tape cartridge, tape cassette, tape recording, temper tantrum, thistledown, thrive, tower, transcription, turn, unguent, upgrade, upshoot, upspear, upspring, upsprout, upsurge, varnish, vegetable wax, vegetate, velvet, widen, wire recording, wool, zephyr