cera

wax

noun CHEH-rah Rare

Origin: From Latin cera (wax).

Also means

complexion

Usage Note

Cera primarily means wax (candle wax, floor wax, ear wax), but in spoken Italian it also colloquially means one's complexion or look: avere una brutta cera (to look unwell, literally 'to have bad wax/colour'). Do not confuse with c'era (there was), which is a homophone. Floor polish is dare la cera (to wax the floor).

Examples

"La candela è fatta di cera d'api."

Natural Translation

The candle is made of beeswax.

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