| waxwing | <ornithology> Any one of several species of small birds of the genus Ampelis, in which some of the secondary quills are usually tipped with small horny ornaments resembling red sealing wax. The Bohemian waxwing (see under Bohemian) and the cedar bird are examples. Synonym: waxbird. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| waxwork | 1. Work made of wax; especially, a figure or figures formed or partly of wax, in imitation of real beings. 2. <botany> An American climbing shrub (Celastrus scandens). It bears a profusion of yellow berrylike pods, which open in the autumn, and display the scarlet coverings of the seeds. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waxy | Resembling wax in appearance or consistency; viscid; adhesive; soft; hence, yielding; pliable; impressible. "Waxy to persuasion. <medicine> " Waxy degeneration, a kidney or liver affected by waxy degeneration. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| waxy cast | A form of urinary cast consisting of homogeneous proteinaceous material that has a high refractive index, in contrast to the low refractive index of hyaline cast's; waxy cast's probably represent an advanced stage of the disintegrative process that results in coarsely and finely granular cast's, and are usually indicative of oliguria or anuria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| waxy degeneration | Infiltration of amyloid between cells and fibres of tissues and organs. Synonym: waxy degeneration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| waxy fingers | Impaired digital circulation, possibly a mild form of Raynaud's disease, marked by a purplish or waxy white colour of the fingers, with subnormal local temperature and paresthesia. Synonym: dead fingers, waxy fingers. Origin: acro-+ G. Asphyxia, stoppage of the pulse (05 Mar 2000) |
| waxy kidney | A kidney in which amyloidosis has occurred, usually in association with some chronic illness such as multiple myeloma, tuberculosis, osteomyelitis, or other chronic suppurative inflammation; such kidney's are moderately enlarged and grossly manifest a waxy appearance, with amyloid deposited beneath the endothelium in the glomerular loops and in the arterioles, apparently beginning as foci of thickening of the basement membranes. Synonym: waxy kidney. (05 Mar 2000) |
| waxy liver | Amyloid degeneration of the liver. Synonym: lardaceous liver. (05 Mar 2000) |
| white wax | Yellow wax bleached by being rolled very thin and exposed to the light and air, or bleached by chemical oxidants; same uses as yellow wax. Synonym: bleached wax, white beeswax. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| wood-wax | <botany> Same as Woadwaxen. Origin: AS. Wuduweaxe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| wool wax | The greasy substance obtained from the wool of the sheep Ovis aries (family Bovidae). Used as an emollient base for creams and ointments. Synonym: hydrous wool fat, lanolin, wool wax. Origin: L. Fat of wool (05 Mar 2000) |
| Horsley's bone wax | A mixture of antiseptic agents, oil, and wax used to stop bleeding by plugging bone cavities or haversian canals. Synonym: Horsley's bone wax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| inlay casting wax | <chemical> A mixture of several dental waxes, usually containing paraffin wax, ceresin, beeswax, resins, and other natural and synthetic waxes. It is used for making patterns to determine the shape of the metallic framework and other parts of removable partial dentures. Chemical name: Inlay casting wax (12 Dec 1998) |
| inlay wax | Any soft solid wax used in dentistry for patterns of all types and for many other purposes; most are basically paraffin but are modified by addition of gum dammar, carnauba wax, or other ingredients, to meet various requirements. Synonym: inlay wax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| earth wax | A natural mixture of hydrocarbons of high molecular weight; a substitute for beeswax, also used in dentistry for impressions. Synonym: cerin, cerosin, earth wax, mineral wax, purified ozokerite. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ear wax | The ear canal is shaped somewhat like an hourglass. The skin on the outer part of the canal has special glands that produce earwax. The purpose of this natural wax is to repel water and to trap dust and sand particles. Usually a small amount of wax accumulates, and then dries up and falls out of the ear canal caring with it unwanted particles. Ear wax is helpful in normal amounts and serves to coat the skin of the ear canal where it acts as a temporary water repellent. The absence of ear wax may result in dry, itchy ears, and even infection. See: cerumen. (12 Dec 1998) |
| emulsifying wax | A washable ointment base consisting of a mixture of cetostearyl alcohol, sodium lauryl sulfate, and water. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Japan wax | A vegetable wax derived from Rhus succedanea and Toxicodendron verniciferum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| yellow wax | A yellowish, solid, brittle substance prepared from the honeycomb of the bee, Apis mellifera; the chief constituent is myricin (myricyl palmitate); others are cerotic acid (cerin), melissic acid, heptacosane, and hentriacontane; used in the preparation of ointments, cerates, plasters, and suppositories. (05 Mar 2000) |