earth wax
- noun
- Specialized
:
cera de tierra
- Some varieties of earth wax are ideal for making ceresin and candles.
Examples
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The miners discovered a large amount of earth wax near the oil wells.
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The laboratory tested the chemical composition of the earth wax sample.
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The earth wax is used in candle production.
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Many manufacturers use earth wax for its durability.
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Some varieties of earth wax are ideal for making ceresin and candles.
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The miners discovered a large amount of earth wax near the oil wells.
-
The laboratory tested the chemical composition of the earth wax sample.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A natural wax found near oil that people use to make candles
A natural wax found near oil that people use to make candles
A natural waxy mineral found with oil used to make candles and other wax products
A waxy substance found with oil underground and used to make candles
Surface Forms
Morphology
earth + wax
The compound 'earth wax' is directly interpretable as a type of wax that comes from the earth/mineral sources: combining the common noun 'earth' (ground, mineral/soil) with 'wax' yields a waxy substance of geological origin. This is a straightforward, compositional noun–noun formation that a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer.
Etymology
Earth wax comes from the simple image of lumps of wax found in the earth. People who dug up this natural wax used it to make candles and other products, so the name came to mean 'a natural wax found with oil in the ground'.