BALM

ointment, unction, unguent, balm, salve

(noun) semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

balm

(noun) any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

balm (countable and uncountable, plural balms)

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.

A plant or tree yielding such substance.

Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.

(figuratively) Something soothing.

The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis

Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horse balm.

Synonyms

• (aromatic resin): balsam

• (plant or tree): balsam

• (soothing oil or lotion): balsam

• (something soothing): balsam

Verb

balm (third-person singular simple present balms, present participle balming, simple past and past participle balmed)

(transitive, archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.

(transitive, figurative) To soothe; to mitigate.

Anagrams

• ALBM, BAML, LBMA, Lamb, blam, lamb

Source: Wiktionary

Balm, n. Etym: [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L. balsamum balsam, from Gr. ; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. basam. Cf. Balsam.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: 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 (Zoöl.), 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).

Balm, v. i.

Definition: To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal. Hence: To soothe; to mitigate. [Archaic] Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition