basil balm
- noun
- /ˈbeɪzəl bɑm/
:
bálsamo de albahaca
- Many herbal teas include dried basil balm leaves for their calming effect.
Examples
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She made a soothing cream with basil balm.
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We grew basil balm in our garden because of its pleasant aroma.
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Basil balm attracts bees with its clusters of violet-and-white flowers.
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I love the smell of basil balm.
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In cooking, basil balm is often used to enhance the flavor of various dishes.
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The herbalist recommended using basil balm for its relaxing properties.
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The garden was filled with the sweet scent of fresh basil balm on a sunny day.
Synonyms
91
1.0
A green plant with a strong smell used in cooking
1
3.0
A herb with lemon-scented leaves used in cooking and teas
1
2.0
A green herb with a strong smell used to flavor food like tomatoes
1
7.4
A garden herb with bright scented flowers that attract bees and butterflies
A small herb with green leaves used to add flavor to food
An aromatic herb with small pink or white flowers that grows in meadows and gardens
A plant from the eastern United States that lives for several years with narrow fragrant leaves and small green flowers
A plant from Europe and Asia with small round yellow flowers used to flavor food, make tea, or scent potpourri
A plant with a minty smell and yellow button flowers used in salads and tea
A bushy herb in the mint family with lemon-scented leaves, also called lemon balm
A bushy plant with lemon-scented leaves and small white or yellow flowers that people use in teas
A trailing plant like mint with rounded leaves and small purple flowers often grown in hanging baskets
A small fragrant herb with tiny purple and white flowers used in cooking
A small mint plant with violet and white flower clusters and a mint smell
A fragrant European mint with small violet and white flowers
A low, fragrant plant with small purple and white flowers that grows close to the ground
A plant that lives for many years with fragrant leaves and groups of pink and yellow flowers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'basil' (an aromatic herb) with 'balm' (an aromatic/resinous salve), so its meaning — a balm made from or scented with basil — is directly inferable from the constituents. This noun+noun compositional pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.
Etymology
Basil balm comes from the herb basil and the word balm, which means a soft, soothing ointment. Because the plant smells pleasant and was used in food and simple remedies, the name points to its nice 'scent' and its 'calming' or 'healing' use.