storax
[ stawr-aks, stohr- ]
/ ˈstɔr æks, ˈstoʊr- /
noun
a solid resin with a vanillalike odor, obtained from a small tree, Styrax officinalis: formerly used in medicine and perfumery.
a liquid balsam (liquid storax) obtained from species of liquidambar, especially from the wood and inner bark of Liquidambar orientalis (Levant storax), a tree of Asia Minor: used chiefly in medicine and perfumery.
any shrub or tree of the genus Styrax, of the storax family, having elongated clusters of showy, white flowers.
Origin of storax
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin, variant of
styrax < Greek
stýrax
Words nearby storax
Example sentences from the Web for storax
British Dictionary definitions for storax
storax
/ (ˈstɔːræks) /
noun
any of numerous styracaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Styrax, of tropical and subtropical regions, having drooping showy white flowers
a vanilla-scented solid resin obtained from one of these trees, Styrax officinalis of the Mediterranean region and SW Asia, formerly used as incense and in perfumery and medicine
a liquid aromatic balsam obtained from liquidambar trees, esp Liquidambar orientalis of SW Asia, and used in perfumery and medicine
Word Origin for storax
C14: via Late Latin from Greek, variant of
styrax