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# balsam

noun (balsam, balsams; balsam is often uncountable)

«balsam» 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 sweet-smelling sticky oil or resin that comes from certain trees and is used in creams and medicines. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#m1)
2. A soothing cream or ointment, like a balm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#m2)
3. A tree that gives this resin, such as the balsam fir. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#m3)
4. A garden plant with bright flowers whose seed pods burst open when touched (also called impatiens or busy Lizzie). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life the word appears on labels of lip balms, cough sweets and hair conditioners; in stories it suggests a calm, healing smell. In science lessons on plants it is a tree resin or a flower with exploding seed pods. Phrases: balsam fir, Himalayan balsam (a weed by rivers in the UK), Peru balsam.

### Examples

- Grandma rubs balsam on her sore knees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x1)
- The Christmas tree was a balsam fir that smelled lovely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x2)
- The cough sweets taste of balsam and honey. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x3)
- Himalayan balsam grows thickly along the river bank. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x4)
- When I touched the balsam pod, it popped and threw out its seeds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x5)
- The shop sells balsam shampoo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x6)
- Pine and balsam scents filled the cabin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x7)
- And even if he could make shoes to perfection they would be no use without the soothing balsam.' [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balsam/#x8)

### Note

Countable for plants (two balsams), usually uncountable for the oil. Do not confuse with «balm» (a soothing cream) or «balsamic» (balsamic vinegar is from grapes, not from balsam). Stress on the first syllable: BAWL-sum.

## In Jewish tradition

It is a sweet-smelling resin used as spice and medicine. It was a costly trade good that Judah and Israel sold to Tyre.

**Interpretation.** Balsam is linked with healing and with fine perfumes, and the rabbis connect it with the balm of Gilead.

### Examples

- Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy traffickers; they traded for thy merchandise wheat of Minnith, and balsam, and honey, and oil, and balm. (Prophets EZK.27.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/balsam/#x1)

### Note

Countable for plants (two balsams), usually uncountable for the oil. Do not confuse with «balm» (a soothing cream) or «balsamic» (balsamic vinegar is from grapes, not from balsam). Stress on the first syllable: BAWL-sum.

## On Mova

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