adj. & n.
--adj.
1. (in painting, ceramics, etc.) using pigments mixed with hot wax, which are burned in as an inlay.
2 (of bricks and tiles) inlaid with differently coloured clays burnt in.
--n.
1. the art of encaustic painting.
2 a painting done with this technique.
Etymology: L encausticus f. Gk egkaustikos (as EN-(2), CAUSTIC)