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Meaning of BALSAM

Pronunciation:  'bolsum

 
WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. [n]  a fragrant ointment containing a balsam resin
  2. [n]  any seed plant yielding balsam
  3. [n]  any of various fragrant oleoresins used in medicines and perfumes
 

BALSAM is a 6 letter word that starts with B.

 

 See Also: balm, balm, balsam, balsam, balsam of tolu, ointment, oleoresin, phanerogam, salve, seed plant, spermatophyte, tolu, tolu balsam, unction, unguent

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
  1. \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}.
    
  2. \Bal"sam\, v. t.
    To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam;
    to render balsamic.
    
 
Thesaurus Terms
 
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