balsam

[ bawl-suh m ]

/ ˈbɔl səm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR balsam ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

any of various fragrant exudations from certain trees, especially trees of the genus Commiphora, as balm-of-Gilead. Compare balm(def 1).

the similar products yielded by the leguminous trees Myroxylon pereirae and M. balsamum, of South America. Compare Peru balsam, tolu.

oleoresin(def 1).

any of certain transparent turpentines, as Canada balsam.

a plant or tree yielding a balsam.

balsam fir.

any of several plants belonging to the genus Impatiens, as I. balsamina, a common garden annual. Compare balsam family.

any aromatic ointment for ceremonial or medicinal use.

any agency that heals, soothes, or restores: the balsam of understanding and appreciation.

Origin of balsam

before 1000; Middle English balsamum, balsaum, Old English balzaman < Latin balsamum < Greek bálsamon. See balm

OTHER WORDS FROM balsam

bal·sa·ma·ceous

[bawl-suh-mey-shuh s] /ˌbɔl səˈmeɪ ʃəs/, adjective bal·sam·ic

[bawl-sam-ik] /bɔlˈsæm ɪk/, adjective bal·sam·y, adjective

Words nearby balsam

balop, balopticon, balpa, balqash, balsa, balsam, balsam apple, balsam capivi, balsam family, balsam of peru, balsam of tolu

Example sentences from the Web for balsamic

Now drizzle in the balsamic vinegar and slap your chicken around the bowl.

How to Cook 'Ghetto Gourmet' |The Daily Beast |December 8, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
Gaby Dalkin takes out her high-end olive oil and blends it with balsamic vinegar to pour over caprese salad.

The Secrets to Buying Olive Oil |Jill Donenfeld |December 1, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
But the manager says turnover is high and that he sells out of even such pricey items as Pringles, Nescafe, and balsamic vinegar.

Life After the Bombs |Judith Miller |October 16, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
Every night this balsamic breath invades the town, filling its streets with ambrosial suggestions.

Alone |Norman Douglas

All the waters are brilliantly green and clear as crystal, rippled by breezes laden with balsamic odors from the adjacent forests.

America, Volume IV (of 6) |Joel Cook
Every ingredient of this Balsamic dentifrice has a beneficial effect on the Teeth and Gums.

Harper's Young People, December 30, 1879 |Various
I frequently used to visit the plantations of nutmegs and cloves, and refresh myself with their balsamic fragrance.

A Woman's Journey Round the World |Ida Pfeiffer
The oily and balsamic substance which the minute seeds possess, may be found to have medicinal qualities.

The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom |P. L. Simmonds

British Dictionary definitions for balsamic

balsam

/ (ˈbɔːlsəm) /

noun

any of various fragrant oleoresins, such as balm or tolu, obtained from any of several trees and shrubs and used as a base for medicines and perfumes

any of various similar substances used as medicinal or ceremonial ointments

any of certain aromatic resinous turpentines See also Canada balsam

any plant yielding balsam

Also called: busy Lizzie any of several balsaminaceous plants of the genus Impatiens, esp I. balsamina, cultivated for its brightly coloured flowers

anything healing or soothing

Derived forms of balsam

balsamic (bɔːlˈsæmɪk), adjective balsamy, adjective

Word Origin for balsam

C15: from Latin balsamum, from Greek balsamon, from Hebrew bāśām spice

Scientific definitions for balsamic

balsam

[ bôl′səm ]

Any of several aromatic resins that flow from certain plants and that contain considerable amounts of benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, or both, or their esters. Balsams are used in perfumes and medicines.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

balsam

noun

Origin of balsam

OTHER WORDS FROM balsam

Words nearby balsam

Example sentences from the Web for balsamic

British Dictionary definitions for balsamic

noun

Derived forms of balsam

Word Origin for balsam

Scientific definitions for balsamic

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

balsam

noun

Origin of balsam

OTHER WORDS FROM balsam

Words nearby balsam

Words related to balsamic

Example sentences from the Web for balsamic

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noun

Derived forms of balsam

Word Origin for balsam

Scientific definitions for balsamic

British Dictionary definitions for balsamic