balm
Americannoun
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any of various oily, fragrant, resinous substances, often of medicinal value, exuding from certain plants, especially tropical trees of the genus Commiphora.
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a plant or tree yielding such a substance.
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any aromatic or fragrant ointment.
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aromatic fragrance; sweet odor.
the balm of orange blossoms.
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any of various aromatic plants of the mint family, especially those of the genus Melissa, as M. officinalis lemonbalm, having ovate lemon-scented leaves used as a seasoning.
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anything that heals, soothes, or mitigates pain.
the balm of friendship in troubled times.
noun
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any of various oily aromatic resinous substances obtained from certain tropical trees and used for healing and soothing See also balsam
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any plant yielding such a substance, esp the balm of Gilead
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something comforting or soothing
soft music is a balm
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any aromatic or oily substance used for healing or soothing
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Also called: lemon balm. an aromatic Eurasian herbaceous plant, Melissa officinalis , having clusters of small fragrant white two-lipped flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)
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a pleasant odour
Other Word Forms
- balmlike adjective
Etymology
Origin of balm
1175–1225; Middle English basme, ba ( u ) me < Anglo-French basme, bal ( s ) me, ba ( u ) me; Old French < Latin balsamum balsam; with orthographic l pedantically restored
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
As he’s watched the Kennedy Center drama unfold and arts infrastructure unravel, he said sitting among laughing audiences has been a balm — for himself and many others.
From Los Angeles Times
The research, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, analyzed 35 samples of balms and bandages from 19 mummies.
From Science Daily
The moon is right there on your phone now and that can be a fleeting balm for our troubled souls.
From BBC
We’ll take our balm where we can find it, especially now.
From Salon
Although their paths seem to be widely divergent, Vernice and Annie’s common desire for love, connection and purpose resonates deeply, which promises to make “Kin” a balm for readers’ fractured spirits in these divided times.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
