waxes Definition

to treat or rub with wax usually for polishing, stiffening, or reducing friction

to apply wax to as a depilatory

to record on phonograph records

to increase in size, numbers, strength, prosperity, or intensity

to grow in volume or duration

to grow toward full development

a substance that is secreted by bees and is used by them for constructing the honeycomb, that is a dull yellow solid plastic when warm, and that is composed primarily of a mixture of esters, hydrocarbons, and fatty acids : beeswax

any of various substances resembling the wax of bees: such as

any of numerous substances of plant or animal origin that differ from fats in being less greasy, harder, and more brittle and in containing principally compounds of high molecular weight (such as fatty acids, alcohols, and saturated hydrocarbons)

increase, growth —usually used in the phrase on the wax

a fit of temper : rage

a hard brittle high-melting wax obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm and used chiefly in polishes

a yellowish fat obtained from the berries of several Asian sumacs (such as Rhus verniciflua and R. succedanea) and used chiefly in polishes

a wax of mineral origin; especially : ozokerite

a hard brittle mineral wax obtained usually from lignites by extraction and used especially in polishes, carbon paper, and insulating compositions

a resinous composition that is plastic when warm and is used for sealing (such as letters, dry cells, or cans)