cerumen

[ si-roo-muhn ]

noun

1. earwax.

cerumen

/ sɪˈruːmɛn /

noun

1. the soft brownish-yellow wax secreted by glands in the auditory canal of the external ear Nontechnical nameearwax

Derived Forms

• ceˈruminous, adjective

Other Words From

• ce·rumi·nous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cerumen¹

1735–45; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin cēr ( a ) wax + ( alb ) umen albumen

Word History and Origins

Origin of cerumen¹

C18: from New Latin, from Latin cēra wax + albumen

Example Sentences

Shell's plans to explore for oil off of South Africa's eastern shore, near a region known as the Wild Coast, threatened to etch in the cerumen of so many whales a dark new chapter.

From Salon

Earwax — which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris — is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears.

From Seattle Times

Earwax—which is not really wax at all, but a substance called cerumen that binds with dirt, dust and debris—is normally produced by the body as a way to clean and protect the ears.

From Scientific American

A. The yellow stuff in the outer part of the ear canal, scientifically named cerumen, is only partly a waxy substance, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

From New York Times

The yellow-orange substance—technically known as cerumen—protects the skin in the ear canal by lubricating it and preventing it from filling up with water.

From Time