1 B2 neutral
To apply wax to hair or another surface to make it lie flat or stay in place.
"He waxed down his hair every morning before work to keep it neat."
separable
wax down
B2 neutral separable transitive
To apply wax to something to flatten, smooth, or hold it down.
In plain English
To rub wax on something to make it stay flat or smooth.
What does "wax down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To coat a surface with wax to protect or smooth it.
"She waxed down the wooden floorboards to give them a protective shine."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To apply wax downward onto a surface to hold it flat — fully transparent.
Actually means
To rub wax on something to make it stay flat or smooth.
Usage tip
Most commonly used in the context of hair styling (waxing hair down flat) or fixing materials in place using wax. Less common than 'wax on' or related waxing vocabulary. Primarily British English usage.
Words that pair with "wax down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
hair surface floor board paper moustache
How to conjugate "wax down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
wax down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
waxes down
he/she/it
Past simple
waxed down
yesterday
Past participle
waxed down
have + pp
-ing form
waxing down
continuous
Hear "wax down" in the wild
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