balm

[bahm]

noun

1. any of various oily, fragrant, resinous substances, often of medicinal value, exuding from certain plants, especially tropical trees of the genus Commiphora.

2. a plant or tree yielding such a substance.

3. any aromatic or fragrant ointment.

   Synonyms: emollient, lotion, unguent, salve

4. aromatic fragrance; sweet odor.

   the balm of orange blossoms.

5. 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.

6. anything that heals, soothes, or mitigates pain.

   the balm of friendship in troubled times.

balm

/ bɑːm /

noun

1. any of various oily aromatic resinous substances obtained from certain tropical trees and used for healing and soothing See also balsam

2. any plant yielding such a substance, esp the balm of Gilead

3. something comforting or soothing

   soft music is a balm

4. any aromatic or oily substance used for healing or soothing

5. Also called: lemon balm. an aromatic Eurasian herbaceous plant, Melissa officinalis , having clusters of small fragrant white two-lipped flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

6. a pleasant odour

Other Word Forms

• balmlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of balm¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of balm¹

C13: from Old French basme , from Latin balsamum _balsam

Example Sentences

Celtic might well make a call to sound out Postecoglou, but O'Neill will serve as a balm for the moment.

Read more on BBC

Mr. Pärt—using small female, male and mixed choirs and divided strings—makes the text hypnotic, a balm even, and on this occasion it proved a sublimely fitting end to programs whose throughline was solace.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Slower home price growth is a positive for buyers in expensive housing markets—but is little balm for buyers in the northeast and Midwest, where prices are likely to have remained strong.

Read more on Barron's

In a revanchist backlash, music was a balm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Charles nods, “Laughter is a tremendous balm for the array of atrocities that we are experiencing as a culture.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• lotion 
• ointment 
• potion 
• salve