Basic+ Word of the Day: wax

wax (noun, verb) past tense: waxed

Wax (beeswax) is a solid yellow substance made by bees when they build their honeycomb.

• The candle is made of wax.
• Wax adds moisture to many skin creams and soaps.

Wax is also a substance similar to beeswax made of fats or oils.

• Car wax protects a car from snow and rain.
• The king signed the proclamation and added his wax seal.

Wax means ‘to polish with wax.’

• John waxes our floors every Thursday.

And also, to apply wax on the body in order to remove hair.

• Tatiana waxed her legs yesterday.

Common uses

wax poetic: to speak in a poetic manner. Example: “Jessica waxed poetic when she told us about her summer romance.”

Did you know?

Wax museums exhibit wax sculptures of famous people. Madame Tussaud’s is a famous wax museum in London with smaller museums in other cities.

In pop culture

In the original Karate Kid movie, Daniel learns karate moves without realizing it, when he waxes his teacher’s car. Listen for the famous line, “Wax on, wax off.”

There are other meanings of wax.