Chinese wax

noun

: a white or yellowish white crystalline wax resembling spermaceti but harder, more friable, and higher melting that is deposited on certain trees by a scale (Ceroplastes ceriferus) common in China and India or a related scale (Ericerus pela) of China and Japan and is used chiefly for making candles, polishing materials, and sizes for paper

called also Chinese insect wax, insect wax

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!