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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

3 entries under this word

Wax

Wāx, n.

noun

n. [A-S. weax, wǣx, O. Sax. wahs, O. Fries. wax, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, L. Ger. wass, D. was, O. H. Ger. wahs, N. H. Ger. wachs, Lith. vaskas, Slav. wosk.]

  1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees;—usually called bees-wax. It is first excreted from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales. These, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious, and this substance is employed in the construction of their cells. Its natural color is amber-yellow.
  2. Hence, any substance resembling wax in consistency or appearance; as, (a.) A thick, tenacious substance, secreted in the ear; ear-wax. (b.) A wax-like composition used for uniting surfaces, or for excluding air, and like purposes; as, sealing-wax, grafting-wax, etching-wax, and the like. “We soften the wax before we set on the seal.” More. (c.) A wax-like composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread. (d.) (Bot.) A wax-like product secreted by certain plants;—usually called vegetable wax. See VEGETABLE. (e.) (Min.) A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock-salt and coal;—called also mineral wax, and ozocerite. See OZOCERITE.

Nose of wax. See NOSE.

Wăx, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. WAXED (wăkst); p. p. WAXED (wăkst), or WAXEN; p. pr. & vb. n. WAXING.] To smear or rub with wax; to treat with wax; as, to wax a thread or a table.

Wāx, v. i.

verbintransitive

[A-S. weaxan, O. Fries. waxa, Goth. vahsjan, Icel. vaxa, Sw. växa, Dan. voxe, L. Ger. & D. wassen, O. Sax. & O. H. Ger. wahsan, N. H. Ger. wachsen.]

Sense 1. To increase in size; to grow; to become larger or fuller; — opposed to wane. “The waxing and the waning of the moon.” Hakewill.

Sense 2. To pass from one state to another; to become; to grow; as, to wax strong; to wax warm or cold; to wax feeble; to wax old; to wax worse and worse.

Where young Adonis reposes, Waxing well of his deep wound. Milton.

Waxing kernels (Med.), small tumors formed by the enlargement of the lymphatic glands, especially in the groins of children; — popularly so called, because supposed to be connected with the growth of the body.

Dunglison.