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Definitions for Wax

[1] Also called beeswax. a solid, yellowish, nonglycerine substance allied to fats and oils, secreted by bees, plastic when warm and melting at about 145°F, variously employed in making candles, models, casts, ointments, etc., and used by bees in constructing their honeycomb.
[2] any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants. Compare vegetable wax, wax insect.
[3] any of a group of substances composed of hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids, and esters that are solid at ordinary temperatures.
[4] cerumen; earwax.
[5] a resinous substance used by shoemakers for rubbing thread.
[6] sealing wax.
[7] a person or object suggesting wax, as in manageability or malleability: I am helpless wax in your hands.
[8] to rub, smear, stiffen, polish, etc., with wax: to wax the floor.
[9] to fill the crevices of (ornamental marble) with colored material.
[10] bikini wax.
[11] Informal . to make a phonograph recording of.
[12] Slang . to defeat decisively; drub: We waxed the competition.
[13] pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax: a wax candle; a wax doll.
[14] whole ball of wax , Slang . the entire or overall plan, concept, action, result, or the like: The first ten minutes of the meeting will determine the whole ball of wax. everything of a similar or related nature: They sold us skis, boots, bindings, poles—the whole ball of wax.
[15] to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.: Discord waxed at an alarming rate.
[16] (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. Compare wane(def 4) .
[17] to grow or become: He waxed angry at the insinuation.
[18] a fit of anger; rage.
[19] any of various viscous or solid materials of natural origin: characteristically lustrous, insoluble in water, and having a low softening temperature, they consist largely of esters of fatty acids
[20] any of various similar substances, such as paraffin wax or ozocerite, that have a mineral origin and consist largely of hydrocarbons
[21] short for beeswax, sealing wax
[22] physiol another name for cerumen
[23] a resinous preparation used by shoemakers to rub on thread
[24] bone wax a mixture of wax, oil, and carbolic acid applied to the cut surface of a bone to prevent bleeding
[25] any substance or object that is pliable or easily moulded he was wax in the hands of the political bosses
[26] (modifier) made of or resembling wax a wax figure
[27] the act or an instance of removing body hair by coating it with warm wax, applying a strip of fabric, and then removing the fabric sharply, thereby plucking the hairs out by their roots
[28] (tr) to coat, polish, etc, with wax
[29] to remove (body hair) by means of a wax treatment
[30] to become larger, more powerful, etc
[31] (of the moon) to show a gradually increasing portion of illuminated surface, between new moon and full moon Compare wane (def. 1)
[32] archaic to become as specified the time waxed late
[33] British informal , old-fashioned a fit of rage or temper he's in a wax today

Words related to Wax

swell, develop, magnify, augment, dilate, come, mount, rise, upsurge, enlarge, increase, turn, build, become, multiply, run, heighten, grow, expand

Words nearby Wax

wavey, wavy, waw, wawa, wawl, wax, wax and wane, wax bean, wax cap, wax flower, wax gourd

Origin of Wax

3First recorded in 1850–55; perhaps special use of wax2

Words that may be confused with Wax

wane, wax

Other words from Wax

wax·a·ble , adjective
wax·like , adjective

Word origin for Wax

of obscure origin; perhaps from the phrase to wax angry

Synonyms for Wax

augment, become, build, come, develop, dilate, enlarge, expand, grow, heighten, increase, magnify, mount, multiply, rise, run, swell, turn, upsurge, fill out, get bigger, get to, grow full