wax

/wæks/

/wæks/

Other forms: waxed; waxing; waxes

The verb wax is most often found in the company of its opposite, "wane." To wax is to grow larger or increase, whereas wane means to grow smaller or decrease.

As the moon grows towards fullness, it waxes. It wanes, or diminishes in size, as the new moon approaches. This is the most common context for the verb wax, but it is also used to describe other phenomena that grow or increase, particularly those that are cyclical. Figuratively, if you wax eloquent, lyrical or poetic about something, you talk about it at great length and with growing enthusiasm. The noun wax refers to chemical compounds that can be shaped and molded, for example into candles, when warm.

Definitions of wax

1. noun

   any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water
   types:

   bayberry tallow, bayberry wax

   a fragrant green wax obtained from the wax myrtle and used in making candles

   carnauba, carnauba wax

   hard yellowish to brownish wax from leaves of the carnauba palm used especially in floor waxes and polishes

   candelilla wax

   a hard brown wax that occurs as a coating on candelilla shrubs

   ceresin

   a white wax extracted from ozokerite

   floor wax

   a preparation containing wax and used to polish and preserve the finish of floors

   fig wax, gondang wax

   a hard cream-colored wax obtained from a Javanese fig tree

   Japan tallow, Japan wax

   a yellow wax obtained from sumac berries; used in polishes

   montan wax

   a hard wax obtained from lignite

   pisang wax

   a wax obtained from the leaves of a plantain

   paraffin scale, scale wax

   partly refined paraffin wax

   ski wax

   wax used on the bottom of skis

   beeswax

   a yellow to brown wax secreted by honeybees to build honeycombs

   cerumen, earwax

   a soft yellow wax secreted by glands in the ear canal

   paraffin, paraffin wax

   from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings

   spermaceti

   a white waxy substance from oil of the sperm whale

   vegetable wax

   a waxy substance obtained from plants (especially from the trunks of certain palms)

   lac wax, shellac wax

   a hard wax separated from shellac by its insolubility in alcohol

   Ghedda wax

   wax from Indian and African bees

   type of:

   lipid, lipide, lipoid

   an oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents; essential structural component of living cells (along with proteins and carbohydrates)
2. verb

   cover with wax
   “wax the car”

   types:

   beeswax

   cover with beeswax

   type of:

   cover

   provide with a covering or cause to be covered
3. verb

   go up or advance
   synonyms: climb, mount, rise

   antonyms:

   wane

   become smaller

   types:

   jump

   increase suddenly and significantly

   advance, gain

   rise in rate or price

   type of:

   increase

   become bigger or greater in amount
4. verb

   increase in phase
   “the moon is waxing”

   synonyms: full

   antonyms:

   wane

   decrease in phase

   type of:

   increase

   become bigger or greater in amount
5. verb

   enter or assume a certain state or condition
   synonyms: become, get, go

   types:

   sober, sober up

   become sober after excessive alcohol consumption

   sober, sober up

   become more realistic

   work

   arrive at a certain condition through repeated motion

   take effect

   go into effect or become effective or operative

   run

   change from one state to another

   take

   be seized or affected in a specified way

   break

   come into being

   settle

   become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet

   type of:

   change state, turn

   undergo a transformation or a change of position or action
6. verb

   write or speak in a specified manner
   type of:

   communicate, intercommunicate

   transmit thoughts or feelings