elemi

American  

[el-uh-mee] / ˈɛl ə mi /

noun

plural

elemis

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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Etymology

Origin of elemi

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

Example Sentences

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

The French pharmacist Meaujean demonstrated in 1820 that elemi contains two resins, one soluble in the cold, and the other in hot spirits of wine.

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