frankincense

[ frang-kin-sens ]

/ ˈfræŋ kɪnˌsɛns /

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noun

an aromatic gum resin from various Asian and African trees of the genus Boswellia, especially B. carteri, used chiefly for burning as incense in religious or ceremonial practices, in perfumery, and in pharmaceutical and fumigating preparations.

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Also called olibanum.

Origin of frankincense

First recorded in 1350–1400, frankincense is from Middle English fraunk encense. See frank¹, incense¹

Words nearby frankincense

frankfurter, Frankfurter, Felix, Frankfurt horizontal, Frankfurt School, Frankie, frankincense, Frankish, Frankland, franklin, Franklin, Benjamin, Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake

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

How to use frankincense in a sentence

Researchers generally assume that Tayma was a pit stop on an ancient network of trade routes, known as the Incense Route, that carried frankincense and myrrh from southern Arabia to Mediterranean destinations around 2,300 to 1,900 years ago.
Ancient ‘smellscapes’ are wafting out of artifacts and old texts|Bruce Bower|May 4, 2022|Science News
Everything from the bark of the tree to the sap inside is fragrant, so both frankincense and myrrh are used as incense and perfume.
What are frankincense and myrrh, anyway?|Eleanor Cummins|December 6, 2021|Popular-Science
Instead of explaining what frankincense and myrrh are for the fourth year in a row, tell everyone that nematode worms lactate.
Fascinating science stories to help you survive holiday small talk|Elana Spivack|November 25, 2021|Popular-Science
As early as the 2nd century, they were promoted to kings, probably because frankincense is associated with royalty in one of the Psalms.
Here's What History Can Tell Us About the Magi|Olivia B. Waxman|December 29, 2020|Time

According to the Gospel, the men had followed a star to the house where Jesus and Mary were and presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Here's What History Can Tell Us About the Magi|Olivia B. Waxman|December 29, 2020|Time
Same with the Three Kings and their gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Frankincense is a kind of incense, which is to say room freshener.
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar “presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The air was heavy with the perfume of frankincense which smouldered in a brass vessel set upon a tray.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
To what purpose do you bring me frankincense from Saba, and the sweet smelling cane from a far country?
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Take of red roses, lapididis hoematis, white frankincense, of each half an ounce.
The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher|Anonymous
It is the true spice-tree of our Northern clime, the myrrh and frankincense of the land of lingering snow.
Little Rivers|Henry van Dyke
To Hamilton Burton it was all like the sniffing of frankincense and myrrh.
Destiny|Charles Neville Buck

British Dictionary definitions for frankincense

frankincense

/ (ˈfræŋkɪnˌsɛns) /

noun

an aromatic gum resin obtained from trees of the burseraceous genus Boswellia, which occur in Asia and AfricaAlso called: olibanum

Word Origin for frankincense

C14: from Old French franc free, pure + encens incense 1; see frank

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

frankincense

Origin of frankincense

Words nearby frankincense

Words related to frankincense

How to use frankincense in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for frankincense

Word Origin for frankincense