waxy
waxy — adjective
- waxypositive
- waxiercomparative
- waxiestsuperlative
1. looking pale, smooth, or slightly shiny in a way that reminds you of wax.
looking pale, smooth, or slightly shiny in a way that reminds you of wax.
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
Rain left a waxy shine on the dark leaves by noon.
The candle maker rejected the soap because its surface felt too waxy.
Under the makeup, Sumin's skin still seemed waxy and tired.
- waxy skin
- waxy face
- waxy shine
- waxy leaves
Usage Note
This sense describes appearance or texture. It does not mean the object is actually made of wax.
Common Mistakes
2. describing potatoes that stay firm and keep their shape after cooking.
describing potatoes that stay firm and keep their shape after cooking.
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
For a smooth mash, Anna avoids waxy potatoes at home.
The soup stayed chunky because the cook used waxy potatoes.
Labels at the farm stand marked which potatoes were waxy.
- waxy potatoes
- waxy variety
- waxy potato salad
- waxy flesh
- 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
Usage Note
Used mainly in cooking to contrast firm potato varieties with starchy ones that break down more easily.
Common Mistakes
3. made of wax, covered with wax, or containing a layer of wax.
made of wax, covered with wax, or containing a layer of wax.
Camille sealed the jar with waxy paper and a string.
collocation: waxy paper
Bees build waxy cells inside each new section of the hive.
The child gripped a waxy crayon until the tip snapped.
A waxy coating protected the cheese during the long trip.
waxy coating = protective wax layer
The museum displayed waxy fruit models beside the farming tools.
- waxy paper
- waxy coating
- waxy crayon
- waxy layer
Usage Note
Unlike sense 1, this sense says wax is really part of the material or surface.
Common Mistakes
4. soft and flexible enough to bend, press, or shape without breaking.
soft and flexible enough to bend, press, or shape without breaking.
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.
The warmed sheet felt waxy and easy to bend around the box.
After the sun hit the sign, its surface turned waxy and soft.
The heated polish became waxy, so Romi shaped it with a cloth.
- waxy clay
- waxy plastic
- waxy polish
- waxy surface
Usage Note
This physical sense is about a material becoming pliable. It does not mean easily influenced by ideas or pressure.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
Waxy suggests a pale, smooth, or slightly unnatural surface like wax. Glossy usually means attractively shiny, while greasy points to oil or fat rather than a dry wax-like coating.
Common collocations
Etymology
Waxy comes from wax plus the adjective ending -y, first meaning made of or like wax and later extending to anything with a wax-like look, feel, or texture.
First known use
1552
1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1