storax

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

noun

a solid resin with a vanillalike odor, obtained from a small tree, Styrax officinalis: formerly used in medicine and perfumery.
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.
any shrub or tree of the genus Styrax, of the storax family, having elongated clusters of showy, white flowers.

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Origin of storax

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

Words nearby storax

storage heater, storage organ, storage ring, storage tube, storage wall, storax, storax family, store, store and forward, store brand, store bælt
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for storax

British Dictionary definitions for storax

storax
/ (ˈstɔːræks) /

noun

any of numerous styracaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Styrax, of tropical and subtropical regions, having drooping showy white flowers
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
a liquid aromatic balsam obtained from liquidambar trees, esp Liquidambar orientalis of SW Asia, and used in perfumery and medicine

Word Origin for storax

C14: via Late Latin from Greek, variant of styrax
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