Skip to the word

Added 10 October 2026

balm

/bɑːm/ noun

Latin root: balsamum Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about balm at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

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.
An aromatic preparation for embalming the dead.
A plant or tree yielding such substance.

verb

To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
To soothe; to mitigate.

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word