Definition

A yellowish, waxy substance produced in the ear canal that helps protect the ear from dirt and bacteria.

Example

The doctor removed excess cerumen from the patient's ear during the examination.

Conversation

Did you know that cerumen is just a fancy word for earwax?

Really? I had no idea!

Yeah, it’s interesting how something so common has a scientific name like cerumen.

Totally! I guess it makes it sound more important than it is.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cerumen comes from the Latin word 'cerumen' (meaning earwax). The term is derived from 'cera' (meaning wax) combined with the suffix '-men', which is used to form nouns. Thus, cerumen refers to the waxy substance found in the ear.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cera' meaning wax, and remember that cerumen is the waxy substance in your ear.

Visually Confused Words