\Bal"sam\, n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin,
Gr. ?. See {Balm}, n.]
1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or
   volatile oil.
Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing
      spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A
      great variety of substances pass under this name, but
      the term is now usually restricted to resins which, in
      addition to a volatile oil, contain benzoic and
      cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of
      Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu.
      There are also many pharmaceutical preparations and
      resinous substances, possessed of a balsamic smell, to
      which the name balsam has been given.
2. (Bot.)
   (a) A species of tree ({Abies balsamea}).
   (b) An annual garden plant ({Impatiens balsamina}) with
       beautiful flowers; balsamine.
3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores.
         Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood?
                                               --Tennyson.
{Balsam apple} (Bot.), an East Indian plant ({Momordica
   balsamina}), of the gourd family, with red or
   orange-yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of the size of a
   walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and
   poultices.
{Balsam fir} (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, {Abies
   balsamea}, from which the useful Canada balsam is derived.
{Balsam of copaiba}. See {Copaiba}.
{Balsam of Mecca}, balm of Gilead.
{Balsam of Peru}, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained
   from a Central American tree ({Myroxylon Pereir[ae]} and
   used as a stomachic and expectorant, and in the treatment
   of ulcers, etc. It was long supposed to be a product of
   Peru.
{Balsam of Tolu}, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or
   solid balsam, obtained from a South American tree
   ({Myroxylon toluiferum}). It is highly fragrant, and is
   used as a stomachic and expectorant.
{Balsam tree}, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp.
   the {Abies balsamea}.
{Canada balsam}, {Balsam of fir}, Canada turpentine, a
   yellowish, viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure,
   becomes a transparent solid mass. It is obtained from the
   balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir ({Abies balsamea}) by
   breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and branches. See
   {Balm}.

\Bal"sam\, v. t.
To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam;
to render balsamic.