wax

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
: a substance that is secreted by bees and is used by them for constructing the honeycomb, that is a dull yellow solid plastic when warm, and that is composed primarily of a mixture of esters, hydrocarbons, and fatty acids : beeswax
2
: any of various substances resembling the wax of bees: such 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 (such as fatty acids, alcohols, and saturated hydrocarbons)
b
: a solid substance (such 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

wax

2 of 5

verb (1)

waxed; waxing; waxes

transitive verb

1
a
: to treat or rub with wax usually for polishing, stiffening, or reducing friction
b
: to apply wax to as a depilatory
getting her legs waxed
2
: to record on phonograph records
3
slang : to defeat decisively (as in an athletic contest)

wax

3 of 5

verb (2)

waxed; waxing; waxes

intransitive verb

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

wax

4 of 5

noun (2)

: increase, growth
usually used in the phrase on the wax

wax

5 of 5

noun (3)

: a fit of temper : rage

Examples of wax in a Sentence

Verb (1) waxing a surfboard I can't believe I bet on a football team that ended up getting waxed 45-0 Verb (2) the commitment of the young volunteers to the cause seems to wax and wane waxed poetic whenever he wrote to his girlfriend
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For extremely dry skin, try incorporating a paraffin wax treatment or a foot mask like Baby Foot Original Exfoliation Foot Peel. Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 24 Oct. 2024 The collection includes wax warmers, plug-ins, and candles in designs that work for many styles, from country to contemporary—and everything costs $16 or less. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024
Verb
But Shore wouldn’t recommend eating the skins from the grocery store or non-organic squash since these squash can be treated or waxed. Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2024 That proved correct, with displays of aurora — including vast red pillars — waxing and waning throughout the night, varying in intensity and occasionally reaching severe storm conditions. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wax 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wax.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English weax; akin to Old High German wahs wax, Lithuanian vaškas

Verb (2)

Middle English waxen "to grow, increase in size or quantity," going back to Old English weaxan (Class VII strong verb, probably originally Class VI), going back to Germanic *wahsan- (whence also Old Frisian waxa, wexa "to grow, increase," Old Saxon wahsan "to grow, prosper," Middle Dutch wassen "to grow," Old High German wahsan, Old Icelandic vaxa, Gothic wahsjan), going back to an o-grade derivative of the Indo-European verbal base *h2u̯eks- "grow, increase," whence with e-grade Greek aéxein "to cause to grow, strengthen," aéxesthai "to increase, grow"; with zero grade *h2uks- Greek aúxein, auxánein "to raise, cultivate, grow," aúxesthai "grow, become larger," Tocharian B auks- "sprout, grow up," Sanskrit úkṣant- "growing," Avestan uxšiieitī "(it) grows"

Note: Germanic *wahsan- was a Class VI strong verb, though the weak infinitive wahsjan in Gothic is evidence of an original causative formation *h2u̯oks-éi̯e-. In Old English the verb has shifted to Class VII, excepting the Northumbrian past tense forms awōx, wōxon. In later Middle English waxen became a weak verb, though the strong participle waxen persisted into early Modern English, being the more common form (as against waxed) in the Authorized Version of the Bible (1611). — As has long been noted, Indo-European *h2u̯eks- appears to be a suffixed form of the root *h2eu̯g- "increase," with the vowel in a different position—so-called "floating ablaut" (German Schwebeablaut) (see eke entry 2).

Noun (2)

Middle English, noun derivative of waxen "to grow, wax entry 3"

Noun (3)

perhaps from wax entry 3

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wax was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wax

Cite this Entry

“Wax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wax. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

wax

1 of 3 noun
1
: a yellowish moldable substance produced by bees and used by them for making the honeycomb

called also beeswax

2
: any of various substances like the wax of bees
waxlike adjective

wax

2 of 3 verb
: to treat or rub with wax

wax

3 of 3 verb
1
: to grow larger, stronger, fuller, or more numerous
2
: become sense 1
waxed angry as I heard the story
Etymology

Noun

Old English weax "wax produced by bees"

Verb

Old English weaxan "to increase"

Medical Definition

wax

noun
1
: a substance that is secreted by bees and is used by them for constructing 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 beeswax: 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 pliable or liquid composition used especially in uniting surfaces, excluding air, making patterns or impressions, or producing a polished surface
dental waxes
3
: a waxy secretion
especially : earwax

More from Merriam-Webster on wax

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