benzoin
A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from Styrax benzoin, a tree of…A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from Styrax benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, etc., having a fragrant odor, and slightly aromatic taste. It is used in the preparation of benzoic acid, in medicine, and as a perfume.
Meaning
3 senses(countable, uncountable)A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from Styrax benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, etc., having a fragrant odor, and slightly aromatic taste. It is used in the preparation of benzoic acid, in medicine, and as a perfume.
Benzoe
(countable, uncountable)An aromatic hydroxy ketone, 2-hydroxy-1,2-di(phenyl)ethanone, synthesized from benzaldehyde; any derivative of this compound.
(countable, uncountable)The spicebush, Lindera benzoin.
used in some classifications for the American spicebush and certain other plants often included in the genus Lindera
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From Middle French benjoin, from Catalan benjuí, from Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy,From Middle French benjoin, from Catalan benjuí, from Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy, “Javanese frankincense”). The first word is from Proto-West Semitic *laban- (“white”), the second from جاوة (jāwa, “Java”) (from Javanese ꦗꦮ (jawa)).
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Forms
plural: benzoinsSynonyms
5 synonyms- used in some classifications for the American spicebush and certain other plants often included in the genus Lindera:genus Benzoin
- gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation:gum benzoinbenjamingum benjaminasa dulcis
Word family
6 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.