# cerumen

**Pronunciation:** sɪˈruːmən · si-ROO-men

**CEFR level:** C2

**Part of speech:** noun

## Meaning

A yellowish, waxy substance secreted by glands in the outer ear canal to protect the skin and trap dust or debris.

## Examples

- Excessive buildup of cerumen can lead to temporary hearing loss.
- The doctor used a specialized tool to gently remove the hardened cerumen.
- Cerumen serves a protective function by preventing foreign particles from reaching the eardrum.

## Synonyms

- earwax — The standard, everyday term for cerumen.

## Collocations

- excessive cerumen — Excessive cerumen can cause a feeling of fullness in the ear.
- cerumen buildup — Regular cleaning helps prevent cerumen buildup.
- impacted cerumen — The doctor irrigated the ear to remove the impacted cerumen.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/cerumen

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