beeswax
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bees·wax
(bēz′wăks′)n.
1. The yellow to grayish-brown wax secreted by the honeybee for constructing honeycombs.
2. Commercial wax obtained by processing and purifying the crude wax of the honeybee and used in making candles, crayons, and polishes.
3. Informal A matter of concern or business that pertains to someone: It's none of your beeswax where I'm going tonight.
[Sense 3, jocular alteration of business.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
beeswax
(ˈbiːzˌwæks)n
(Elements & Compounds)
a. a yellowish or dark brown wax secreted by honeybees for constructing honeycombs
b. this wax after refining, purifying, etc, used in polishes, ointments, and for modelling
vb
(tr) to polish with such wax
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
wax1
(wæks)n.
1. 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. any of various similar substances, as spermaceti or the secretions of certain insects and plants.
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. Slang. a phonograph record.
v.t. 8. to rub, polish, etc., with wax.
9. Slang. to defeat decisively; drub: We waxed the competition.
10. Slang. to make a phonograph recording of.
adj. 11. pertaining to, made of, or resembling wax.
[before 900; Middle English wex, waxe, Old English weax, c. Old Saxon, Old High German wahs, Old Norse vax, Old Church Slavonic voskŭ, Lithuanian vãškas]
wax′a•ble, adj.
wax2
(wæks)v.i.
1. to increase in extent, quantity, intensity, power, etc.
2. (of the moon) to increase in the extent of its illuminated portion before the full moon. Compare wane (def. 4).
3. to grow or become: to wax resentful.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English weaxan to grow, wax, c. Old Saxon, Old High German wahsan, Old Norse vaxa, Gothic wahsjan; akin to waist]
wax3
(wæks)n. Brit.
a fit of anger.
[1850–55]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
beeswax
Past participle: beeswaxed
Gerund: beeswaxing
Imperative |
---|
beeswax |
beeswax |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | ![]() cerotic acid, hexacosanoic acid - a white solid fatty acid found in waxes (such as beeswax) animal product - a product made from animal material wax - any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water Ghedda wax - wax from Indian and African bees |
Verb | 1. | beeswax - cover with beeswax; "Chris beeswaxed the kitchen table" wax - cover with wax; "wax the car" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
شَمْع عَسَل
včelí vosk
bivoks
mesilasvaha
mehiläisvaha
méhviasz
bÿvax
cera
včelí vosk
bivax
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
beeswax
n → Bienenwachs nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
bee
(biː) noun1. a four-winged insect that makes honey.
2. (especially American) a meeting for combined work and enjoyment. a knitting bee.
ˈbeehive noun a box in which bees are kept, and where they store their honey.
ˈbeeswax (ˈbiːzwӕks) noun the yellowish solid substance produced by bees for making their cells, and used in polishing wood.
a bee in one's bonnet an idea which has become fixed in one's mind. She has a bee in her bonnet about going to America.
make a bee-line for to take the most direct way to; to go immediately to. Fred always makes a bee-line for the prettiest girl at a party.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.