Waxy describes something that looks, feels, or behaves like wax. When you touch a fresh crayon or a candle, that smooth, slightly slippery feeling is waxy. Some leaves, like those on a rubber plant, have a waxy coating that makes water bead up and roll right off. Your skin might look waxy if you're feeling sick, meaning it has a pale, smooth, almost artificial appearance.

The word often suggests something is coated or protected. Apples in the grocery store frequently have a thin waxy layer that makes them shiny. Some cheeses come wrapped in a thick red or yellow waxy coating. Surfers apply a waxy substance to their boards so their feet won't slip.

In science, chemists use waxy to describe certain materials that melt at low temperatures and don't dissolve in water, like real wax. But in everyday conversation, you're more likely to use it to describe textures and surfaces: waxy paper used in baking, the waxy petals of certain flowers, or the waxy buildup that can form in your ears.