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Balsam
//ˈbɔl.səm// name, noun, verb
Definitions
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from German.
Noun
- 1 A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants. UK, countable, uncountable
- 2 an ointment containing a fragrant resin wordnet
- 3 A plant or tree yielding such substance. UK, countable, uncountable
- 4 any seed plant yielding balsam wordnet
- 5 A soothing ointment. UK, countable, uncountable
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 any of various fragrant oleoresins used in medicines and perfumes wordnet
- 7 Something soothing. UK, countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Classical music is a sweet balsam for our sorrows"
- 8 A flowering plant of the genus Impatiens. countable, uncountable
- 9 The balsam family of flowering plants (Balsaminaceae), which includes Impatiens and Hydrocera. countable, uncountable
- 10 A balsam fir Abies balsamea. countable, uncountable
- 11 Canada balsam, a turpentine obtained from the resin of balsam fir. countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To treat or anoint with balsam. transitive
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”), of Semitic origin (Hebrew בושם (“spice, perfume”)); compare Old English balsam, balsamum (“balsam, balm”), Doublet of balm and desman. Not related to balsa.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”), of Semitic origin (Hebrew בושם (“spice, perfume”)); compare Old English balsam, balsamum (“balsam, balm”), Doublet of balm and desman. Not related to balsa.
Etymology 3
Borrowed from German Balsam, an occupational surname for a seller of perfumes. It could also be an English habitational surname, from Balsham, in Cambridgeshire.
See also for "balsam"
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