sealing wax

noun

1. a resinous preparation, soft when heated, used for sealing letters, documents, etc.

sealing wax

noun

1. a hard material made of shellac, turpentine, and pigment that softens when heated. It is used for sealing documents, parcels, letters, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of sealing wax¹

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

I applied sealing wax and dropped it in a mailbox.

From New York Times

But Aunt Ruby pinned her collar with a red rose made of sealing wax.

From Literature

A fingerprint has been detected on sealing wax.

From New York Times

But gallery director Massimo Ferrari is confident the original has been found, because stamps and sealing wax on the back of the painting are the originals.

From BBC

The sheet was sealed with sealing wax, and the Lady Una questioned the boy closely about the travelers—a man and his wife—before she broke the seal and read the letter.

From Literature