balm
noun (a balm, balms; balm — uncountable); lip balm
Everyday
- A balm is a thick, oily cream or ointment that soothes, heals or protects the skin. tree →
- A balm is anything that comforts or calms you, as in «Music was a balm to her». tree →
- Balm can also be a sweet-smelling herb, such as lemon balm, used to make teas. tree →
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 →
- Grandma rubbed balm on my itchy bite. tree →
- The cool breeze was a balm after the hot day. tree →
- This balm smells of mint. tree →
- Lemon balm grows in our herb garden. tree →
- His kind words were a balm to her sadness. tree →
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 →
- Is there no balm in Gilead? (Prophets JER.8.22, JPS 1917) tree →
- 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 →
- 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 →
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: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «balm» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «balm» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «balm» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/balm/