balsam

[ bawl-suhm ]

noun

1. any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm ( def 1 ).
2. the similar products yielded by the leguminous trees Myroxylon pereirae and M. balsamum, of South America. Compare Peru balsam, tolu.
3. oleoresin ( def 1 ).
4. any of certain transparent turpentines, as Canada balsam.
5. a plant or tree yielding a balsam.
6. balsam fir.
7. any of several plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, as I. balsamina, a common garden annual. Compare balsam family.
8. any aromatic ointment for ceremonial or medicinal use.
9. any agency that heals, soothes, or restores:

   the balsam of understanding and appreciation.

balsam

/ ˈbɔːlsəm; bɔːlˈsæmɪk /

noun

1. any of various fragrant oleoresins, such as balm or tolu, obtained from any of several trees and shrubs and used as a base for medicines and perfumes
2. any of various similar substances used as medicinal or ceremonial ointments
3. any of certain aromatic resinous turpentines See also Canada balsam
4. any plant yielding balsam
5. Also calledbusy Lizzie any of several balsaminaceous plants of the genus Impatiens , esp I. balsamina , cultivated for its brightly coloured flowers
6. anything healing or soothing

balsam

/ bôl′səm /

1. Any of several aromatic resins that flow from certain plants and that contain considerable amounts of benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, or both, or their esters. Balsams are used in perfumes and medicines.

Derived Forms

• ˈbalsamy, adjective
• balsamic, adjective

Other Words From

• bal·sa·ma·ceous [bawl-s, uh, -, mey, -sh, uh, s], adjective
• bal·sam·ic [bawl-, som, -ik, ‐-, sam, ‐], adjective
• bal·sam·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of balsam¹

before 1000; Middle English balsamum, balsaum, Old English balzaman < Latin balsamum < Greek bálsamon. See balm

Word History and Origins

Origin of balsam¹

C15: from Latin balsamum , from Greek balsamon , from Hebrew bāśām spice

Example Sentences

The play is being produced by Hannah Getts, who has been with the show at each stage of its production history; Alex Levy, a speechwriter and media strategist whose work includes communications consulting for New York Times executives; Craig Balsam, who co-founded the music company Razor & Tie; and P3 Productions, the company that was the lead producer for last season’s musical “How to Dance in Ohio.”

From New York Times

Introduced from central Europe into the Pacific Northwest about a century ago, the balsam woolly adelgid, or BWA, first detected in Utah in 2017 and has been spreading around the Wasatch Mountains, visibly affecting many of the popular recreation canyons outside Salt Lake City.

From Science Daily

But on the Isle Royale National Park near Michigan’s border with Canada, balsam firs were being devoured.

From Washington Times

Walcott studied the fossils by cutting them into sections of paper-thin slices of rock and attaching them to glass slides using balsam sap.

From Science Daily

But on the Isle Royale National Park near Michigan’s border with Canada, balsam firs were being devoured.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• lotion
• ointment
• potion
• salve