Definition of "cerumen" [ce•ru•men]

• See earwax. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The outer part of the ear canal secretes earwax, officially called cerumen, in order to trap water, dust, and bacteria."
• "Ear wax, which is clinically referred to as cerumen, has many purposes which include cleaning and lubricating the ear canal, antimicrobrial properties, anti-fungal properties, and it has been suggested that it acts as an insect repellant."
• "The skincovering the outer part of the ear canalcontains special glands that produce ear wax, a sticky, waxy substance also known as cerumen which is different [...]"