beeswax

beeswax
Wax Wax, n. [AS. weax; akin to OFries. wax, D. was, G. wachs, OHG. wahs, Icel. & Sw. vax, Dan. vox, Lith. vaszkas, Russ. vosk'.] [1913 Webster] 1. A fatty, solid substance, produced by bees, and employed by them in the construction of their comb; -- usually called {beeswax}. It is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales, which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious. Its natural color is pale or dull yellow. [1913 Webster]

Note: Beeswax consists essentially of cerotic acid (constituting the more soluble part) and of myricyl palmitate (constituting the less soluble part). [1913 Webster]

2. Hence, any substance resembling beeswax in consistency or appearance. Specifically: [1913 Webster] (a) (Physiol.) Cerumen, or earwax. See {Cerumen}. [1913 Webster] (b) A waxlike composition used for uniting surfaces, for excluding air, and for other purposes; as, sealing wax, grafting wax, etching wax, etc. [1913 Webster] (c) A waxlike composition used by shoemakers for rubbing their thread. [1913 Webster] (d) (Zo["o]l.) A substance similar to beeswax, secreted by several species of scale insects, as the Chinese wax. See {Wax insect}, below. [1913 Webster] (e) (Bot.) A waxlike product secreted by certain plants. See {Vegetable wax}, under {Vegetable}. [1913 Webster] (f) (Min.) A substance, somewhat resembling wax, found in connection with certain deposits of rock salt and coal; -- called also mineral wax, and ozocerite. [1913 Webster] (g) Thick sirup made by boiling down the sap of the sugar maple, and then cooling. [Local U. S.] [1913 Webster] (h) any of numerous substances or mixtures composed predominantly of the longer-chain saturated hydrocarbons such as the paraffins, which are solid at room teperature, or their alcohol, carboxylic acid, or ester derivatives. [PJC]

{Japanese wax}, a waxlike substance made in Japan from the berries of certain species of {Rhus}, esp. {Rhus succedanea}.

{Mineral wax}. (Min.) See {Wax}, 2 (f), above.

{Wax cloth}. See {Waxed cloth}, under {Waxed}.

{Wax end}. See {Waxed end}, under {Waxed}.

{Wax flower}, a flower made of, or resembling, wax.

{Wax insect} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of scale insects belonging to the family {Coccid[ae]}, which secrete from their bodies a waxlike substance, especially the Chinese wax insect ({Coccus Sinensis}) from which a large amount of the commercial Chinese wax is obtained. Called also {pela}.

{Wax light}, a candle or taper of wax.

{Wax moth} (Zo["o]l.), a pyralid moth ({Galleria cereana}) whose larv[ae] feed upon honeycomb, and construct silken galleries among the fragments. The moth has dusky gray wings streaked with brown near the outer edge. The larva is yellowish white with brownish dots. Called also {bee moth}.

{Wax myrtle}. (Bot.) See {Bayberry}.

{Wax painting}, a kind of painting practiced by the ancients, under the name of encaustic. The pigments were ground with wax, and diluted. After being applied, the wax was melted with hot irons and the color thus fixed.

{Wax palm}. (Bot.) (a) A species of palm ({Ceroxylon Andicola}) native of the Andes, the stem of which is covered with a secretion, consisting of two thirds resin and one third wax, which, when melted with a third of fat, makes excellent candles. (b) A Brazilian tree ({Copernicia cerifera}) the young leaves of which are covered with a useful waxy secretion.

{Wax paper}, paper prepared with a coating of white wax and other ingredients.

{Wax plant} (Bot.), a name given to several plants, as: (a) The Indian pipe (see under {Indian}). (b) The {Hoya carnosa}, a climbing plant with polished, fleshy leaves. (c) Certain species of {Begonia} with similar foliage.

{Wax tree} (Bot.) (a) A tree or shrub ({Ligustrum lucidum}) of China, on which certain insects make a thick deposit of a substance resembling white wax. (b) A kind of sumac ({Rhus succedanea}) of Japan, the berries of which yield a sort of wax. (c) A rubiaceous tree ({El[ae]agia utilis}) of New Grenada, called by the inhabitants ``arbol del cera.''

{Wax yellow}, a dull yellow, resembling the natural color of beeswax. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • beeswax — ► NOUN 1) wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs, used for wood polishes and candles. 2) N. Amer. informal a person s concern: that s none of your beeswax …   English terms dictionary

  • Beeswax — Bees wax , n. The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are constructed. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beeswax — 1670s, from genitive of BEE (Cf. bee) + WAX (Cf. wax). As a jocular alteration of business (usually in an injunction to someone to mind his own) attested from 1934 in Lower East Side slang as reproduced in Henry Roth s Call It Sleep …   Etymology dictionary

  • beeswax — [bēz′waks΄] n. a tallowlike substance that honeybees secrete and use for building their honeycomb: it is used in candles, polishes, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Beeswax — For the rock song by Nirvana, see Beeswax (song). Beeswax is a natural wax produced in the bee hive of honey bees of the genus Apis . Beeswax is produced by young worker bees between 12 and 17 days old in the form of thin scales secreted by… …   Wikipedia

  • beeswax — /beez waks /, n. 1. wax1 (def. 1). v.t. 2. to rub or treat with beeswax. [1670 80; BEE1 + S1 + WAX1] * * * Commercially useful wax secreted by worker honeybees to make the cell walls of the honeycomb. A bee consumes an estimated 6–10 lbs (3–4.5… …   Universalium

  • beeswax — /ˈbizwæks/ (say beezwaks) noun 1. the wax secreted by bees, of which they construct their honeycomb; wax. –verb (t) 2. to rub, polish, or treat with beeswax. –phrase Colloquial (humorous) 3. be none of someone s beeswax, to not involve someone… …  

  • beeswax — [“bizwaeks] n. business; concern. (See also mind your own beeswax; none of someone’s beeswax.) □ Is this any of your beeswax? □ Tend to your own beeswax …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • beeswax — noun 1》 the wax secreted by bees to make honeycombs, used in making wood polishes and candles. 2》 N. Amer. informal a person s concern: that s none of your beeswax. verb polish (furniture) with beeswax …   English new terms dictionary

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