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beebalm

beebalm

9.2
A garden herb with bright tube-shaped flowers that attract bees and butterflies
  • noun
  • /ˈbiːbɑːlm/
  • US
translation icon : bálsamo de abeja
  • Bright red beebalm blossoms stood out in the summer border.
  • beebalm (Monarda)

Examples

  • Many gardeners plant beebalm to attract bees and butterflies to their yards.

  • The leaves of beebalm can be used to make a fragrant herbal tea.

  • I planted beebalm in my garden last spring.

  • The beebalm flowers attract many pollinators.

  • In my garden, I planted beebalm to attract hummingbirds with its bright flowers.

  • She brewed a tea from beebalm leaves, believing it would soothe her cold symptoms.

  • The beebalm plants thrived in the sunny corner of the yard, blooming beautifully in summer.

Synonyms

bee balm
vsbeebalm
  • US
1 7.4

A garden herb with bright scented flowers that attract bees and butterflies

is written as a single word rather than two separate words
Monarda didyma
vsbeebalm
  • Specialized
9.8

A plant that lives for several years with fragrant, bright flowers that attract bees

is the more general garden herb term, not only this single species
Monarda fistulosa
vsbeebalm
  • Specialized
9.6

A plant from North America that lives for many years and has fragrant leaves and purple flowers

applies more generally to the garden herb group, not only this wild species
Oswego tea
vsbeebalm
  • US
9.9

A strong smelling plant with bright flowers used to make tea

focuses on the plant as a garden herb and occasional remedy rather than tea use
monarda
vsbeebalm
  • Specialized
9.9

A scented herb with bright flowers that attracts bees and hummingbirds

is a single common name used for some members of that genus
genus Monarda
vsbeebalm
  • Specialized
8.6

A group of North American herbs with scented leaves in the mint family, like beebalm

is a common garden name, not the scientific genus term

Surface Forms

beebalm singular
beebalms plural

Morphology

beebalm = bee + balm (transparent) = bee + balm

The compound 'bee' + 'balm' directly names a plant associated with bees and resembling a balm, so learners can infer its meaning from the parts.

Etymology

The word beebalm comes from the simple parts bee and balm, where 'balm' means a soothing, fragrant plant or small healing salve. So beebalm is a fragrant herb that bees love and gardeners often grow for its bright flowers and leaves that can make a sweet herbal tea.