Wax

The verb wax is most often found in the company of its opposite, "wane." To wax is to grow larger or increase, whereas wane means to grow smaller or decrease.

  • Pronunciation: /wæks/
  • English Description: a solid substance made of fat or oil and used to make candles, polish etc OR when the moon waxes, it seems to get bigger each night
  • Chinese Translation: 蜡 (La4); 月亮渐满 (Yue4 Liang4 Jian4 Man3)
  • Spanish Translation: cera
  • STORY: As the moon grows towards fullness, it waxes. It wanes, or diminishes in size, as the new moon approaches. This is the most common context for the verb wax, but it is also used to describe other phenomena that grow or increase, particularly those that are cyclical. Figuratively, if you wax eloquent, lyrical or poetic about something, you talk about it at great length and with growing enthusiasm. The noun wax refers to chemical compounds that can be shaped and molded, for example into candles, when warm.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE:

  • Movies inspired by the pioneering puppeteer have therefore waxed and waned over the years.Los Angeles Times Mar 20, 2015

  • He also appears to have waxed his legs for the event.

P.S: New word description, story and part of "EXAMPLE SENTENCE" are cited in Vocabular.com