Lexic.us

Definition of Balsam

1. Noun. Any seed plant yielding balsam.

2. Noun. Any of various fragrant oleoresins used in medicines and perfumes.

3. Noun. An ointment containing a fragrant resin.

Definition of Balsam

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

2. v. t. To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to render balsamic.

Definition of Balsam

1. Noun. A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants. ¹

2. Noun. A plant or tree yielding such substance. ¹

3. Noun. A soothing ointment. ¹

4. Noun. (figuratively) Something soothing. ¹

5. Noun. A flowering plant of the genus ''Impatiens''. ¹

6. Noun. A balsam fir. ¹

7. Noun. Canada balsam, a turpentine obtained from the resin of balsam fir. ¹

8. Verb. (transitive) To treat or anoint with balsam. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Balsam

1. to anoint with balsam (an aromatic, resinous substance) [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Balsam

1. 1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil. 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. A species of tree (Abies balsamea). 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, 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 Pereirae 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 (Myxoxylon toluiferum). It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant. Balsam tree, any tree from which balsam is obtained, especially. 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. Origin: L. Balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. See Balm. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Balsam

baloney ponies baloneys balonie baloo baloos balotade balotades balrog balrogs bals

balsa balsa raft balsa wood balsalazide balsam (current term) balsam Canada balsam apple balsam capivi balsam family balsam fir

balsam firs balsam herb balsam of Peru balsam of copaiba balsam of tolu balsam pear balsam poplar balsam willow balsam woolly aphid

Literary usage of Balsam

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Medical Lexicon: A Dictionary of Medical Science : Containing a Concise by Robley Dunglison (1868)
"A kind of ointment, f< imposed of fatty bodies, volatile oils, balsam of Peni, ... A soft mixture of balsam, resin, muriate of ammonia, find powder of the ..."

2. A Dictionary of Chemistry and the Allied Branches of Other Sciences by Henry Watts (1870)
"White Peru balsam. — Obtained from the fruit of the tree by removing tie wings and the outer ... The balsam thus obtained is pale yellow, somewhat thick, ..."

3. Animal Micrology: Practical Exercises in Zoölogical Micro-technique by Michael Frederic Guyer (1917)
"3. Pass it through absolute alcohol and clear in cedar oil, turpentine, or xylol. 4. Lay the leg, disk side uppermost, in a drop of balsam on a slide, ..."

4. How to Work with the Microscope by Lionel Smith ( Beale (1880)
"In mounting a thin section of bone or other hard dry texture in Canada balsam, the following steps are taken : the glass slide having been wanned upon the ..."

5. The Microscope and Its Revelations by William Benjamin Carpenter (1883)
"After about two minutes, the clove-oil is to be drained away, and the balsam or Dammar solution applied by the glass rod; one drop being placed on the ..."

6. Pharmaceutical Journal by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1844)
"There are in the market two varieties of the balsam, which are known on the continent, and distinguished in the French price- lists as the ..."

7. Journal of the Royal Microscopical Society by Royal Microscopical Society, London (1882)
"Diatoms are easily resolved in this medium, which in a dry or balsam mount are unresolvable." Vacuum-bubbles in Canada balsam.*—Mr. WM Bale says, ..."

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