balm

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)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.
2. (countable, uncountable)An aromatic preparation for embalming the dead.
3. (countable, uncountable)A plant or tree yielding such substance.
4. (countable, uncountable)Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.
5. (countable, figuratively, uncountable)Something soothing.

   “Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.”

   “BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]”

6. (countable, uncountable)The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis.
7. (countable, uncountable)Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horsebalm.

verb

1. (archaic, transitive)To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.

   “Shrouded in cloth of state, balmed and entreasured / With full bags of spices!”

2. (figuratively, transitive)To soothe; to mitigate.

   “This rest might yet have balmed thy broken sinews”