Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

balsam

/ˈbɔl.səm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.65 in modern English

Syllables
bal-sam
IPA
/ˈbɔl.səm/
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

British usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

A plant or tree yielding such substance.

British usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

A soothing ointment.

British usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

Something soothing.

British usage; Countable; Uncountable

noun

A flowering plant of the genus Impatiens.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Any member of the balsam family of flowering plants (Balsaminaceae), which includes genera Impatiens and Hydrocera.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A balsam fir (Abies balsamea).

Countable; Uncountable

noun

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

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin balsamum, from Ancient Greek βάλσαμον (bálsamon, “balsam”), of Semitic origin (Hebrew בושם (“spice, perfume”)); compare Old English balsam, balsamum (“balsam, balm”), Doublet of balm and desman. Not related to balsa.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: balsamum, βάλσαμον, בושם, Balsam

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈbɔl.səm/
  • British English: /ˈbɔːl.səm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

balsams (plural) balsem (alternative) balsum (alternative) balsome (alternative) balsams (present, singular) balsaming (participle, present) balsamed (participle, past) balsamed (past)

Derived Forms

balsamaceous balsamarium balsamed balsamic balsamical balsamiferous Balsamina balsamint balsamroot balsamweed balsamy imbalsamation

Phrases

Abraham's balsam balsam apple balsam Canada balsam fir Balsam Lake balsam-mint balsam of Acouchi balsam of aniseed

Frequently Paired Words

balm balsamate balsamation Balsaminaceae balsamine balsamise balsamitic balsamize

Synonyms

balm jewelweed impatiens touch-me-not

Questions

How do you pronounce balsam?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɔl.səm/.
What does balsam mean?
A sweet-smelling oil or resin derived from various plants.
Where does balsam come from?
It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce balsam

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “balsam”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbɔl.səm/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “balsam”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “balsam” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.