Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Balsam
Bal′sam
(ba̤l′sam)
, Noun.
1.
A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil.
☞ 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 Pereiræ
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
,Verb.
T.
To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to render balsamic.
Webster 1828 Edition
Balsam
BAL'SAM
,Noun.
great variety of substances pass under this denomination. But in modern chimistry, the term is confined to such vegetable juices, as are liquid or spontaneously become concrete, and consist of a resinous substance, combined with benzoic acid, or capable of affording it by decoction or sublimation. The balsams are either liquid or solid; of the former, are the balm of Gilead and the balsams of copaiba, Peru and tolu; of the latter, benzoin, dragon's blood, and storax.
Balsam apple, an annual Indian plant; included under the genus Momordica. A water and a subtil oil are obtained from it, which are commended as deobstruents.
Balsam tree. This name is given to a genus of plants called Clusia; to another, called Copaifera, which produces the balsam of Copaiba; and to a third, called Pistacia, turpentine tree or mastich tree.
Balsam of Sulphur is a solution of sulphur in oil
Balsam of Tolu is the produce of the Toluifera, or Tolu tree, of South America. It is of a reddish yellow color, transparent, thick and tenacious, but growing hard and brittle by age. It is very fragrant, and like the Balsam of Peru, is a stimulant, and used as a pectoral.
Balsam of Peru, the produce of a tree in Peru, possessing strong stimulant qualities.
Definition 2024
Balsam
Balsam
See also: balsam
German
Noun
Balsam m (genitive Balsams, plural Balsame)
Declension
Declension of Balsam
Related terms
- balsamieren
balsam
balsam
See also: Balsam
English
Alternative forms
- balsem, balsum, balsome
Noun
balsam (countable and uncountable, plural balsams)
- (chiefly Britain) A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants.
- (chiefly Britain) A plant or tree yielding such substance.
- (chiefly Britain) A soothing ointment.
- (chiefly Britain, figuratively) Something soothing.
- Classical music is a sweet balsam for our sorrows
- A flowering plant of the genus Impatiens.
- The balsam family of flowering plants (Balsaminaceae), which includes Impatiens and Hydrocera.
- A balsam fir Abies balsamea.
- Canada balsam, a turpentine obtained from the resin of balsam fir.
Synonyms
- (sweet-smelling oil): balm
- (plant or tree): balm
- (soothing ointment): balm
- (something soothing): balm
- (flowering plant of the genus Impatiens): jewelweed, impatiens, touch-me-not
Derived terms
Terms derived from balsam
|
|
|
Related terms
Related terms
|
Translations
sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from some plants
plant or tree yielding such substance
soothing ointment
|
|
figurative: something soothing
flowering plant of the genus Impatiens
|
balsam fir — see balsam fir
turpentine from the resin of balsam fir — see Canada balsam
See also
Verb
balsam (third-person singular simple present balsams, present participle balsaming, simple past and past participle balsamed)
Anagrams
Irish
Etymology
From Old Irish balsam(m), balsaim(e), from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon).
Noun
balsam m (genitive singular balsaim)
Declension
Declension of balsam
First declension
|
Bare forms:
|
Forms with the definite article:
|
Derived terms
Terms derived from balsam
|
|
|
Mutation
| Irish mutation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
| balsam | bhalsam | mbalsam |
| Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. | ||
References
- "balsam" in Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
- “balsam(m), balsaim(e)” in Dictionary of the Irish Language, Royal Irish Academy, 1913–76.
Polish
Pronunciation
Noun
balsam m inan
Declension
declension of balsam