balsamic

[ bawl-som-ik, ‐-sam‐ ]

noun

1. balsamic vinegar, an aromatic vinegar aged in wood barrels:

   a recipe for baked ham with balsamic, bourbon, and honey.

adjective

1. using balsamic vinegar as a primary ingredient:

   Drizzle the Brussels sprouts with balsamic dressing while they are still warm.

2. of the nature of, consisting of, or resembling balsam:

   Myrrh oil has a woody, balsamic scent when heated for aromatherapy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of balsamic¹

First recorded in 1680–90; balsam ( def ) + -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

It started showing up by A-list name in the fancy foods lists of the 1990s, a contemporary of balsamic vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes.

From Seattle Times

There are many types of vinegar, including balsamic, apple cider, red wine and rice vinegar — you might find one that agrees with you more than others.

From Seattle Times

I suggest using less oil than you might to dress a salad and I prefer red wine vinegar over balsamic.

From Salon

Maybe I put a drop of balsamic oil on something that was great yesterday, and all of a sudden it’s like, “whoa!,” but it’s still not perfect.

From Seattle Times

The balsamic vinegar may also seem like an odd ingredient, but it’s a great stand-in for malty, subtly sweet Chinese black vinegar that’s made from rice.

From Washington Times