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balsam Definition

bal·sam (bôl′səm)

noun

  1. any of various oily or gummy aromatic resins obtained from various plants and containing either benzoic or cinnamic acid
  2. any of various aromatic, resinous oils or fluids
  3. any aromatic preparation made with balsam, as certain medical dressings
  4. anything healing or soothing; balm
  5. any of various plants or trees of various families that yield balsam, as the balsam fir
  6. any of various species of the impatiens, esp. the garden balsam

Etymology: OE < L balsamum: see balm

adjective

designating a family (Balsaminaceae, order Geraniales) of dicotyledonous plants, including jewelweed and impatiens

balsam Related Forms
bal·sam′ic (-sam′ik) adjective
balsam Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • pine: Fregert, S. and Rorsman, H. ( 1963 ) Simultaneous hypersensitivity to balsam of pine and to balsam of Peru.

Converse of object

  • include: There are 144 different species of flowering plant growing on the hill, including small balsam, lords and ladies and climbing corydalis.
  • make: AURO 184 is a liquid balsam made from beeswax and plant wax.

Adjective modifier

  • himalayan: Examples include mink, signal crayfish, common carp and plants such a himalayan balsam, New Zealand pigmy weed and parrots feather.

Modifies a noun

  • tree: Furthermore, the term Baca in Hebrew can mean either " weeping " or " balsam trees.
  • poplar: A small Western balsam poplar P. trichocarpa is found along the footpath on Dog Kennel Hill.
  • fir: A florist developed contact dermatitis from the foliage of balsam fir; a patch test produced a positive reaction ( Kappes 1948 ).
  • pear: Also known as balsam pear, bitter melon is cucumber shaped with a pebbly surface.
  • flower: Biology: Himalayan balsam flowers from June to October.