Frankincense

//ˈfɹæŋkənˌsɛns// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A type of incense obtained from the Boswellia thurifera tree. countable, uncountable

    "The glories of Mary held his soul captive : spikenard and myrrh and frankincense, symbolising the preciousness of God's gifts to her soul, rich garments, symbolising her royal lineage, her emblems, the lateflowering plant and lateblossoming tree, symbolising the agelong gradual growth of her cultus among men."

  2. 2
    an aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees; formerly valued for worship and for embalming and fumigation wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
olibanumebonygum olibanumincenseoakolibanum

Example

More examples

"When the Three Wise Men rode from the East into the West on that "first, best Christmas night," they bore on their saddle-bows three caskets filled with gold and frankincense and myrrh, to be laid at the feet of the manger-cradled babe of Bethlehem."

Etymology

From Old French franc encens (“noble incense”).

Related phrases

Jew's frankincense

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.