wax

wax
wax
wax1 [waks]
n.
[ME < OE weax, akin to Ger wachs < IE * wokso- < * weg-, to weave, prob. < base * (a)we-, to WEAVE]
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.,
a) paraffin
b) a waxlike substance exuded by the ears; earwax; cerumen
c) a waxy substance produced by scale insects
d) any waxlike substance yielded by plants or animals
e) a resinous substance used by shoemakers to rub on thread
f) 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. [from the wax cylinders formerly used for recording sound] [Old Informal] Informal former a phonograph record: once common in put on wax, to make a phonograph record of
vt.
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. [Old Informal] to make a phonograph record of
adj.
made of wax
waxer
n.
waxlike
adj.
wax2 [waks]
vi.
waxed, waxing [ME waxen < OE weaxan, to grow, akin to Ger wachsen < IE * aweks- < base * aweg-, * aug- > EKE1, L augere, Gr auxein, to increase]
1. to grow gradually larger, more numerous, etc.; increase in strength, intensity, volume, etc.: said esp. of the visible face of the moon during the phases after new moon in which the lighted portion is gradually increasing from a thin crescent on the right, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere: opposed to WANE (vi. 1): see MOON
2.
a) Literary to become; grow [to wax angry]
b) to speak or express oneself [he waxed on and on about his prowess]
wax3 [waks]
n.
[< ? WAX2, as in phr. wax angry] [Informal, Chiefly Brit.] a fit of anger or temper; a rage

English World dictionary. . 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:
, / (as the moon), , / , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wax — Wax, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk .] [1913 Webster] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wax — ● wax nom masculin (anglais wax, cire) En Afrique noire, tissu de coton imprimé de qualité supérieure. wax n. m. Tissu de coton imprimé d un dessin évoquant des craquelures, obtenu par un procédé à la cire. (En appos.) Un tissu wax. Un pagne wax …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 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. [1913 Webster] {Waxed cloth}, cloth covered with a coating of wax, used as a cover, of tables and for other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wax — (w[a^]ks), 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Wax — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. {{{image}}}   Sigles d une seule lettre   Sigles de deux lettres > Sigles de trois lettres …   Wikipédia en Français

  • wax|y — «WAK see», adjective, wax|i|er, wax|i|est. 1. like wax. 2. made of wax; containing wax; waxen. 3. abounding in or covered w …   Useful english dictionary

  • wax — ‘soft oily substance’ [OE] and the now archaic wax ‘grow, become’ [OE] are distinct words. The former comes (together with German wachs, Dutch was, Swedish vax, and Danish vox) from a prehistoric Germanic *wakhsam. This in turn was descended from …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • wax — ‘soft oily substance’ [OE] and the now archaic wax ‘grow, become’ [OE] are distinct words. The former comes (together with German wachs, Dutch was, Swedish vax, and Danish vox) from a prehistoric Germanic *wakhsam. This in turn was descended from …   Word origins

  • wax|en — «WAK suhn», adjective. 1. of wax; made of wax: »For now my love is thaw d; Which, like a waxen image gainst a fire Bears no impression of the thing it was (Shakespeare). 2. Figurative. like wax; smooth, soft, and pale: »Her skin is waxen. 3.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • wax — verb. In the meaning ‘to assume a specified tone or state’, wax is followed by an adjective, not an adverb: to wax lyrical, to wax enthusiastic, etc.: • When the Roman soldiers were asked to take part in the Claudian invasion of 43, they waxed… …   Modern English usage

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”