storax

American  

[stawr-aks, stohr-] / ˈstɔr æks, ˈstoʊr- /

noun

1. a solid resin with a vanillalike odor, obtained from a small tree, Styrax officinalis: formerly used in medicine and perfumery.

2. a liquid balsam liquid storax obtained from species of liquidambar, especially from the wood and inner bark of Liquidambar orientalis Levant storax, a tree of Asia Minor: used chiefly in medicine and perfumery.

3. any shrub or tree of the genus Styrax, of the storax family, having elongated clusters of showy, white flowers.

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storax British  

/ ˈstɔːræks /

noun

1. any of numerous styracaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Styrax, of tropical and subtropical regions, having drooping showy white flowers

2. a vanilla-scented solid resin obtained from one of these trees, Styrax officinalis of the Mediterranean region and SW Asia, formerly used as incense and in perfumery and medicine

3. a liquid aromatic balsam obtained from liquidambar trees, esp Liquidambar orientalis of SW Asia, and used in perfumery and medicine

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Etymology

Origin of storax

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, variant of styrax < Greek stýrax

Example Sentences

Styrax, stī′raks, n. a genus of plants abounding in resinous and aromatic substances, one species of which produces storax, another benzoin.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

The king of this island was a very comely personage, of an olive complexion, with long black hair, his body being perfumed with the odoriferous oils of storax and benzoin, and painted with various colours.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 10 Arranged in systematic order: Forming a complete history of the origin and progress of navigation, discovery, and commerce, by sea and land, from the earliest ages to the present time. by Kerr, Robert

Benzoin, dragon's-blood, and storax are not true balsams, though sometimes called so.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

Besides these presents, there were likewise imported a great quantity of plain garments, and some mixed or inferior cloth; topazes, coral, storax, frankincense, glass vessels, plate, specie, and wine.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 18 Historical Sketch of the Progress of Discovery, Navigation, and Commerce, from the Earliest Records to the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century, By William Stevenson by Stevenson, William

The fruitful province in which it stands was called by the ancients Siria Muinifera, because it produces frankincense, myrrh, and storax.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 06 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert