EARWAX

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does earwax mean? 

• EARWAX (noun)
  The noun EARWAX has 1 sense:

1. a soft yellow wax secreted by glands in the ear canal

  Familiarity information: EARWAX used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EARWAX (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A soft yellow wax secreted by glands in the ear canal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

cerumen; earwax

Hypernyms ("earwax" is a kind of...):

wax (any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water)

 Context examples 

Earwax build-up, fluid, or a punctured eardrum can cause it.

(Hearing Disorders and Deafness, NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

Apocrine glands in the breast secrete fat droplets into breast milk and those in the ear help form earwax.

(Apocrine gland, NCI Dictionary)