waxing
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- (Of a moon) Increasing in illumination: Describes the phase of the moon when its visible, sunlit portion is growing larger, moving from a new moon towards a full moon.
Noun:
- The process of increasing in size, intensity, or magnitude: A gradual growth or expansion.
- The act or process of applying wax: The action of coating, polishing, or treating a surface with wax.
Examples
Adjective:
- We observed the waxing crescent moon in the evening sky.
- The waxing gibbous phase is very bright.
Noun (increase):
- The waxing of the tide was evident as the water crept up the shore.
- There has been a noticeable waxing of public interest in the topic.
Noun (application of wax):
- The waxing of the car took about an hour.
- A good floor waxing protects the wood.
Advanced Usage
"on the wax" (archaic/poetic): In a state of increasing or growing.
- The empire's power was on the wax.
"waxing and waning": A common paired phrase describing cyclical increase and decrease.
- The waxing and waning of the moon is a predictable cycle.
Variants and Related Words
Wax (verb): To increase in size or intensity; to apply wax to something.
- The moon waxes for about two weeks.
- She waxes her skis for better speed.
Wax (noun): The substance used for coating or polishing.
- Wane (verb): The opposite process; to decrease in size or intensity.
Synonyms
- Adjective (moon): Growing, increasing.
- Noun (increase): Growth, expansion, enlargement, rise.
- Noun (application): Polishing, buffing, coating.
Related Phrases
Waxing lyrical/eloquent: To become increasingly enthusiastic and expressive in speech.
- He started waxing lyrical about his favorite film director.
Waxing poetic: Similar to "waxing lyrical," meaning to speak in a poetically expressive manner.
Adjective
- (of the moon) pertaining to the period during which the visible surface of the moon increases
- the waxing moon passes from new to full
Noun
- a gradual increase in magnitude or extent
- the waxing of the moon
- the application of wax to a surface