waxy

IPA/ˈwæksi/
KK[wˈæksi]IPA/ˈwæksi/

waxy — adjective

  • waxypositive
  • waxiercomparative
  • waxiestsuperlative

1. looking pale, smooth, or slightly shiny in a way that reminds you of wax.

1.形容詞C1
釋義

looking pale, smooth, or slightly shiny in a way that reminds you of wax.

例句

After the fever, Darius's face looked waxy under the clinic lights.

waxy face = pale, unhealthy shine

The apples had a waxy skin that reflected the market's bright lamps.

collocation: waxy skin

同義詞
  • glossy

    glossy often sounds cleaner or more attractive, while waxy can suggest an unnatural shine

  • pale

    pale focuses on color only, not the smooth wax-like surface

  • greasy

    greasy suggests oil or fat rather than a wax-like coating

反義詞
  • matte

    without a shiny surface

  • dry

    not smooth or coated

用法筆記

This sense describes appearance or texture. It does not mean the object is actually made of wax.

常見錯誤

❌The table is waxy because it is made from wax.
✅The table has a waxy surface.
💡sense 1 describes a wax-like look or feel, not the material itself.

2. describing potatoes that stay firm and keep their shape after cooking.

2.形容詞C1
釋義

describing potatoes that stay firm and keep their shape after cooking.

例句

The chef chose waxy potatoes for the salad with mustard dressing.

waxy potatoes for salads and stews

Waxy potatoes held their shape in the fish stew.

hold their shape after cooking

同義詞
  • firm

    describes the texture after cooking, though it is less specific than waxy

  • salad-type

    used in cooking to suggest a potato that stays intact

反義詞
  • starchy

    breaks down more easily and suits mash or baking

  • floury

    describes a drier potato texture after cooking

用法筆記

Used mainly in cooking to contrast firm potato varieties with starchy ones that break down more easily.

常見錯誤

❌These waxy potatoes will make fluffy mash.
✅These waxy potatoes stay firm in salad.
💡waxy potatoes keep their shape instead of turning fluffy.

3. made of wax, covered with wax, or containing a layer of wax.

3.形容詞B2
釋義

made of wax, covered with wax, or containing a layer of wax.

例句

Camille sealed the jar with waxy paper and a string.

collocation: waxy paper

Bees build waxy cells inside each new section of the hive.

同義詞
  • waxen

    literary or formal word for made of wax or wax-like

  • coated

    broader; does not always imply wax specifically

反義詞
  • uncoated

    without a protective surface layer

  • bare

    without wax or other covering

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, this sense says wax is really part of the material or surface.

常見錯誤

❌The patient looked waxy because her scarf was waxy.
✅The scarf had a waxy coating.
💡sense 3 is about real wax in the object, not a person's color or expression.

4. soft and flexible enough to bend, press, or shape without breaking.

4.形容詞C2
釋義

soft and flexible enough to bend, press, or shape without breaking.

例句

The clay became waxy after a few minutes in Vivek's hands.

waxy = soft enough to shape

Heat made the plastic waxy enough to press into the mold.

同義詞
  • pliable

    easy to bend without breaking

  • malleable

    especially easy to shape by pressure or heat

反義詞
  • rigid

    not easy to bend or reshape

  • brittle

    breaks instead of bending

用法筆記

This physical sense is about a material becoming pliable. It does not mean easily influenced by ideas or pressure.

常見錯誤

❌He is waxy and changes his opinion every day.
✅The heated seal became waxy and easy to shape.
💡sense 4 is physical pliability, not a person's weak opinions.