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# balm

noun (a balm, balms; balm — uncountable); lip balm

«balm» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A balm is a thick, oily cream or ointment that soothes, heals or protects the skin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#m1)
2. A balm is anything that comforts or calms you, as in «Music was a balm to her». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#m2)
3. Balm can also be a sweet-smelling herb, such as lemon balm, used to make teas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and health: lip balm stops lips cracking in cold or windy weather; balms soothe dry skin, bites and small sores. In stories it is used for comfort and healing, sometimes in old magical tales. Lemon balm is also a herb.

### Examples

- Put on lip balm so your lips don't crack. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x1)
- Grandma rubbed balm on my itchy bite. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x2)
- The cool breeze was a balm after the hot day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x3)
- This balm smells of mint. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x4)
- Lemon balm grows in our herb garden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x5)
- His kind words were a balm to her sadness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/#x6)

### Note

The l is silent: «balm» sounds like «bahm». Do not confuse with «bomb» or with «palm» (of the hand or a tree). Adjective: balmy («a balmy evening» = warm and pleasant).

## In Jewish tradition

In Genesis this is a sweet-smelling resin from Gilead that was traded as a spice and used as medicine.

**Interpretation.** Gilead's balm later became a symbol of healing in the Bible, and here it is part of the caravan that takes Joseph down to Egypt.

### Examples

- And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and ladanum, going to carry it down to Egypt. (Torah GEN.37.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balm/#x1)
- Is there no balm in Gilead? (Prophets JER.8.22, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balm/#x2)
- Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed, wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. (Prophets JER.51.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balm/#x3)
- Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt; in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no cure for thee. (Prophets JER.46.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balm/#x4)

### Note

The l is silent: «balm» sounds like «bahm». Do not confuse with «bomb» or with «palm» (of the hand or a tree). Adjective: balmy («a balmy evening» = warm and pleasant).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «balm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«balm» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/balm.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «balm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balm/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«balm» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/balm.html) on Mova free.