any of several plants of the genus Commiphora, especially C. opobalsamum and C. meccanensis, which yield a fragrant oleoresin.
Also called Mecca balsam. the resin itself, a turbid yellow, green, or brownish-red water-insoluble gluey liquid, used chiefly in perfumery.
a hybrid North American poplar, Populus gileadensis, cultivated as a shade tree.
any of several trees of the burseraceous genus Commiphora , esp C. opobalsamum of Africa and W Asia, that yield a fragrant oily resin Compare balm myrrh
the resin exuded by these trees
a North American hybrid female poplar tree, Populus gileadensis (or P. candicans ), with broad heart-shaped leaves
a fragrant resin obtained from the balsam fir See also Canada balsam
First recorded in 1695–1705
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Once in a long while you may see a balm-of-Gilead tree, or a clump of sapling poplars, planted near the door.
From Little Rivers; a book of essays in profitable idleness by Van Dyke, Henry
He said the balm-of-Gilead lint was much better than the linen lint.
From Our Young Folks at Home and Abroad by Dale, Daphne
Xylobalsamum, zī-lō-bal′sa-mum, n. the dried twigs of the balm-of-Gilead tree.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
The tension of their thoughts was too sharp; they turned for relief to the scene before them, stopping at the stile to look back at the steepled white church, standing under its spreading balm-of-Gilead tree.
From The Stolen Singer by Bellinger, Martha Idell Fletcher
We also cleared up the slope round it and set out borders of young pine and balm-of-Gilead trees.
From A Busy Year at the Old Squire's by Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)
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.
