Definition of "balm"

balm

/bɑːm/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural balms
1. Any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora of Africa, Arabia and India and Myroxylon of South America.
2. An aromatic preparation for embalming the dead.
3. A plant or tree yielding such substance.
4. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
5. (figuratively) Something soothing.
  Quotations
  BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm.
  1781, [Mostyn John Armstrong], History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Volume IX. Containing the Hundreds of Smithdon, Taverham, Tunstead, Walsham, and Wayland, volume IX, Norwich: Printed by J. Crouse, for M. Booth, bookseller, page 51
6. The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis
7. Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horsebalm.
verb
third-person singular simple present balms, present participle balming, simple past and past participle balmed
1. (transitive, archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
  Quotations
  Shrouded in cloth of state, balmed and entreasured / With full bags of spices!
  c. 1607–1608, William Shakespeare, George] [Wilkins, Pericles, Prince of Tyre, act 3, scene 2, lines 63–64
2. (transitive, figurative) To soothe; to mitigate.
  Quotations
  This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews
  c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 3, scene 6, line 96

Definition of "balm"

balm

noun

Quotations

verb

Quotations

Quotations