wax1

 
Pronunciation: /waks/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a sticky yellowish mouldable substance secreted by honeybees as the material of a honeycomb; beeswax.
  • a white translucent material obtained by bleaching and purifying beeswax and used for such purposes as making candles, modelling, and as a basis of polishes.
  • a similar viscous substance, typically a lipid or hydrocarbon.
  • earwax.
  • 2 informal used in reference to records: he didn’t get on wax until 1959

verb

[with object]
  • 1cover or treat (something) with wax or a similar substance, typically to polish or protect it: I washed and waxed the floor
  • remove unwanted hair from (a part of the body) by applying wax and then peeling off the wax and hairs together: she waxed her legs when necessary
  • 2 informal make a recording of: he waxed a series of tracks that emphasized his lead guitar work (as noun waxing) the latest waxing by the Grams

Derivatives

waxer

noun

Origin:

Old English wæx, weax, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch was and German Wachs. The verb dates from late Middle English