wax

cire

Substance solide provenant d’animaux, comme les abeilles, qui ramollit à la chaleur et sert à fabriquer des bougies.

En anglais simple : A solid substance from animals, such as bees, that softens when warm and is used to make candles.

• The candle is made from wax.
• The bees produce wax for their honeycomb.
• Warm wax dripped onto the table.

Expressions courantes : candle wax, natural wax

cire

Substance grasse, solide ou semi-solide, qui empêche l’eau de passer.

En anglais simple : An oily substance that stays firm or partly firm and keeps water out.

• This wax protects the wood from water.
• The factory uses synthetic wax in its products.
• Apply a thin layer of wax to the surface.

Expressions courantes : paraffin wax, protective wax

cérumen

Substance jaunâtre produite à l’intérieur des oreilles qui contribue à les protéger.

En anglais simple : A yellowish substance made inside the ears that helps protect them.

• Wax can build up inside your ears.
• The doctor removed some wax from his ear.
• Too much wax was affecting her hearing.

Synonymes : earwax

Expressions courantes : ear wax, wax buildup

cirer

Couvrir une surface de cire pour la protéger ou la faire briller.

En anglais simple : To cover a surface with a substance that protects it or makes it shine.

• He waxes his car every month.
• We waxed the wooden floor yesterday.
• Wax the table, then polish it with a soft cloth.

Synonymes : buff, shine, polish, furbish

Expressions courantes : wax a car, wax the floor, wax thread, wax something

croître

Pour la lune, présenter une partie éclairée qui paraît plus grande chaque nuit jusqu’à la pleine lune.

En anglais simple : If the moon does this, its bright part appears larger each night until it is full.

• The moon waxes before it becomes full.
• We watched the moon waxing over several nights.
• Does the moon wax at the same rate each month?

Contraires : wane

Expressions courantes : wax and wane, moon begins to wax

croître, augmenter

Devenir plus important, plus fort ou plus grand.

En anglais simple : To become greater, stronger, or larger.

• His influence waxed as the years passed.
• Public interest waxes and wanes with the seasons.
• Their power continued to wax while their rivals grew weaker.

Synonymes : grow, increase

Contraires : wane, decrease

Expressions courantes : wax and wane, wax in strength