balm

CEFRC2

/bɑːm/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A substance used to soothe pain or dryness.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A plant or tree yielding such substance.

Examples

  • Do you have some lip balm? My lips are dry.

  • Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of disappointed love.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
1

Also pronounced

  • /bɑlm/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An aromatic preparation for embalming the dead.

  2. 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.

  3. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.

More examples

In context

  • Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.

  • Shrouded in cloth of state, balmed and entreasured / With full bags of spices!

  • This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

She applied a soothing blank to her sunburned skin for relief.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

Inherited from Middle English bawme, borrowed from Anglo-Norman and Middle French baume, from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum, itself from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon). Spelling modified 16th c. to conform to Latin etymology. Doublet of balsam and desman.