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earwax

[eer-waks]
noun
  1. a yellowish, waxlike secretion from certain glands in the external auditory canal; cerumen.
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Origin of earwax

First recorded in 1350–1400, earwax is from the Middle English word erewax. See ear1, wax1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for earwax

Historical Examples

  • Saliva, tears, nostrils, and earwax; the great weakness and pain in the body reminds me of cerebro-spinal meningitis.

    New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers

    Various

  • Earwax, which had been very dry, now flows from both ears, but is more free on the left side.

British Dictionary definitions for earwax

earwax

noun
  1. the nontechnical name for cerumen
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for earwax

n.

late 14c., from ear (n.1) + wax (n.).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
earwax in Medicine

earwax

(îr′wăks′)
n.
  1. A waxlike secretion of certain glands lining the canal of the external ear; cerumen.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.