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bal⋅sam

[bawl-suh

–noun

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

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

3.	oleoresin (def. 1).

4.	any of certain transparent turpentines, as Canada balsam.

5.	a plant or tree yielding a balsam.

6.	balsam fir.

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

8.	any aromatic ointment for ceremonial or medicinal use.

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

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME balsamum, balsaum, OE balzaman < L balsamum < Gk bálsamon. See balm

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : Balsam

Spanish:

bálsamo,

German:

der Balsam,

Japanese:

バルサム

View 30 other languages »

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bal·sam (bôl'səm) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Any of several aromatic resins, such as balsam of Peru and balsam of Tolu, that contain considerable amounts of benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, or both, or their esters.
2. Any of several other fragrant plant resins, such as Canada balsam.
3. A similar substance, especially a fragrant ointment used as medication; a balm.
Any of various trees, especially the balsam fir, yielding an aromatic resinous substance.
See jewelweed.

[Latin balsamum, from Greek balsamon, of Semitic origin; see bśm in Semitic roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

jew·el·weed (jōō'əl-wēd') Pronunciation Key
n. Any of several plants of the genus Impatiens having yellowish spurred flowers and seedpods that dehisce into five valves when mature. Also called balsam, touch-me-not.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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balsam

1579, "aromatic resin used for healing wounds and soothing pains," from L. balsamum (see balm). There is an isolated O.E. reference from c.1000. As a type of flowering plant of the Impatiens family, it is attested from 1741. Balsamic is from 1605.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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balsam
noun
1.	any seed plant yielding balsam
2.	any of various fragrant oleoresins used in medicines and perfumes
3.	an ointment containing a fragrant resin

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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balsam (bôl'səm) Pronunciation Key
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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Balsam Grove, NC Zip code(s): 28708

Balsam Lake, WI (village, FIPS 4475) Location: 45.45809 N, 92.45467 W
Population (1990): 792 (660 housing units)
Area: 5.2 sq km (land), 3.2 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 54810

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Balsam

Balm\, n. [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ?; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. b[=a]s[=a]m. Cf. Balsam.]

1. (Bot.) An aromatic plant of the genus Melissa.

2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or shrubs. --Dryden.

3. Any fragrant ointment. --Shak.

4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. "Balm for each ill." --Mrs. Hemans.

Balm cricket (Zo["o]l.), the European cicada. --Tennyson.

Balm of Gilead (Bot.), a small evergreen African and Asiatic tree of the terebinthine family (Balsamodendron Gileadense). Its leaves yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this tree is obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This has a yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic taste, and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent and cosmetic by the Turks. The fragrant herb Dracocephalum Canariense is familiarly called balm of Gilead, and so are the American trees, Populus balsamifera, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and Abies balsamea (balsam fir).

Balsam

Bal"sam\, n. [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. ?. See Balm, n.]

1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil.

Note: 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 Pereir[ae] 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.