wax

wax
I
[[t]wæks[/t]]
n.
1) biochem. ent
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) biochem. any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants
3) chem. any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures
4) phl cerumen; earwax
5) a resinous substance used by shoemakers for rubbing thread
7) sts hfi sl. a phonograph record
8) to rub, polish, etc., with wax
9) sts sl. to defeat decisively; drub:
We waxed the competition[/ex]
10) inf sl. to make a phonograph recording of
11) pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax
Etymology: bef. 900; ME wex, waxe, OE weax, c. OOHG wahs, ON vax, OCS voskŭ, Lith škas wax′a•ble, adj. II
wax
[[t]wæks[/t]] v. i.
1) to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc
2) astron. (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon
Compare wane 4)
3) to grow or become:
to wax resentful[/ex]
Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE weaxan to grow, wax, c. OOHG wahsan, ON vaxa, Go wahsjan; akin to waist III
wax
[[t]wæks[/t]] n.
brit. a fit of anger
Etymology: 1850–55

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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  • 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 — 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 …   English World dictionary

  • 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

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