elemi

American  

[el-uh-mee] / ˈɛl ə mi /

noun

elemis plural

1. any of various fragrant resins from certain trees, especially Canarium commune, used chiefly in the manufacture of varnishes, lacquers, ointments, and in perfumery.

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elemi British  

/ ˈɛlɪmɪ /

noun

1. any of various fragrant resins obtained from tropical trees, esp trees of the family Burseraceae: used in making varnishes, ointments, inks, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• elemis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of elemi

1535–45; short for gum elemi < New Latin gummi elimī; compare Arabic allāmī the elemi

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

elemi

Many of the resins had antimicrobial properties — one bowl containing elemi and animal fat was inscribed “to make his odour pleasant” — or characteristics that promoted preservation.

From Scientific American ● Feb. 9, 2023

They also used resin from elemi, a tree that grows in rainforests in Africa and Asia.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 1, 2023

The researchers also identified more exotic ingredients, including dammar and elemi, resins extracted from hardwoods native to Southeast Asian rainforests thousands of kilometers from ancient Egypt.

From Science Magazine ● Feb. 1, 2023

Some of the substances came from very far away — like dammar and elemi, types of resin that come from the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 1, 2023

Pili-pitch, or elemi, as they call it in Manila, is a substance existing in soft masses, slightly yellowish or gray, resembling old honey in appearance.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers