Ointment vs Balm - What's the difference?
ointment | balm |
(medicine) A viscous preparation of oils and/or fats, usually containing medication, used as a treatment or as an emollient.
Any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora'' of Africa, Arabia and India and ''Myroxylon of South America.
A plant or tree yielding such substance.
Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
(figuratively) Something soothing.
Any of various aromatic plants of the genus Melissa , such as lemon balm () or bee balm.
(archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
(figurative) To soothe; to mitigate.
As nouns the difference between ointment and balm
is that ointment is a viscous preparation of oils and/or fats, usually containing medication, used as a treatment or as an emollient while balm is any of various aromatic resins exuded from certain plants, especially trees of the genus Commiphora of Africa, Arabia and India and Myroxylon of South America.As a verb balm is
to anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.ointment
English
Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* salve * unguentDerived terms
* fly in the ointmentSee also
* cream * inunction * liniment * unction * unctuous * unguentExternal links
* * *balm
English
Noun
(en noun)- There is a balm in Gilead.... (Spiritual)
- Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.
Synonyms
* (aromatic resin) balsam * (plant or tree) balsam * (soothing oil or lotion) balsam * (something soothing) balsamSee also
* lotion * ointment * unguentVerb
(en verb)- (Shakespeare)
