wax

Pronunciation: waks

Definition:

1. A substance, plastic at room temperature, secreted by bees for building honeycomb cells.
2. Any substance with physical properties similar to those of beeswax, of animal, vegetable, or mineral origin (oils, lipids, or fats that are solids at room temperature).
3. Esters of high molecular weight fatty acids with monohydric or dihydric alcohols (aliphatic or cyclic), that are solid at room temperature; often accompanied by free fatty acids.

Synonym(s): beeswax, cera

[A.S. weax]

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