balsam

[ bawl-suhm ]

See synonyms for: balsam balsamic on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead.: Compare balm (def. 1).
the similar products yielded by the leguminous trees Myroxylon pereirae and M. balsamum, of South America.: Compare Peru balsam, tolu.

oleoresin (def. 1).
any of certain transparent turpentines, as Canada balsam.
a plant or tree yielding a balsam.
balsam fir.
any of several plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, as I. balsamina, a common garden annual.: Compare balsam family.
any aromatic ointment for ceremonial or medicinal use.
any agency that heals, soothes, or restores: the balsam of understanding and appreciation.

Origin of balsam

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

Other words from balsam

bal·sa·ma·ceous [bawl-suh-mey-shuhs], /ˌbɔl səˈmeɪ ʃəs/, adjective
bal·sam·ic [bawl-som-ik, ‐sam‐], /bɔlˈsɒm ɪk, ‐ˈsæm‐/, adjective
bal·sam·y, adjective

Words Nearby balsam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use balsam in a sentence

On the way down he identifies trees by which needles are best to sleep on: balsam fir is good.
Pete Dexter’s Indelible Portrait of Author Norman Maclean | Pete Dexter | March 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Martin balsam and Diane Cilento and all the good people are holed up in a shack at the top of the hill.
The Elmore Leonard Interview | Allen Barra | April 9, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
balsam boughs were gathered for the bed and some firewood collected; then we went down stream to fish and explore.
Muskrat City | Henry Abbott
A vulnerary balsam invented by Guy, of Caliac, once in great repute, but now obsolete.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I | Arnold Cooley
Its medicinal qualities are intermediate to those of the aromatic turpentines and balsam of tolu.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I | Arnold Cooley

Castor oil may be detected in the way noticed under balsam of Peru.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I | Arnold Cooley
Of the nature of balsam, or containing or resembling it; bland, soothing, healing; balmy.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I | Arnold Cooley

British Dictionary definitions for balsam

balsam

/ (ˈbɔːlsəm) /

noun

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
any of various similar substances used as medicinal or ceremonial ointments

any of certain aromatic resinous turpentines: See also Canada balsam
any plant yielding balsam
Also called: busy Lizzie any of several balsaminaceous plants of the genus Impatiens, esp I. balsamina, cultivated for its brightly coloured flowers
anything healing or soothing

Origin of balsam

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

Derived forms of balsam

balsamic (bɔːlˈsæmɪk), adjective
balsamy, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for balsam

balsam

[ bôl′səm ]

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.

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