Dictionary

benzoin en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈbɛnzəʊɪn/ (UK)
• /ˈbɛnzɔɪn/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Arabic لُبَان (lubān) Proto-Indo-European *yew- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *yéwos Proto-Indo-Iranian *yáwas Sanskrit यव (yava)bor.? Proto-Austronesian *zawa Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zawader.? Old Javanese jawa Old Javanese -i Old Javanese Jawi Javanese ꦗꦮꦶ (jawi)der. Arabic جَاوَة (jāwa) Proto-Afroasiatic Proto-Semitic Arabic ـِيّ (-iyy) Arabic جَاوِيّ (jāwiyy) Arabic لُبَان جَاوِيّ (lubān jāwiyy)bor. Catalan benjuíder. Middle French benjoinder. English benzoin 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)). The initial lu was probably lost because it was taken as the definite article in Romance. Compare oliban.

Meanings

1. (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.
   • Nedde: In Arab countries, a mixture of various perfumes, with benzoin and amber predominating, is so called. This mixture, which is black in colour, is formed into a small cylinder and used aphrodisiacally. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 164:
   • Aromatics were used, too, especially in necromancy, and an old recipe of that sort comprises Musk, Myrrh, Frankincense, Red Storax, Mastick, Olibanum, Saffron, Benzoin and Labdanum. 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 112:
   • These following bodies do not draw: smaragd, achates, corneolus, pearl, jaspis, chalcedonius, alabaster, porphyry, coral, marble, touchstone, haematites, or bloodstone; smyris, ivory, bones, ebontree, cedar, cypress, pitch, softer rosin, camphire, galbanum, ammoniac, storax, benzoin, loadstone, asphaltum. 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC:
2. (countable, uncountable) An aromatic hydroxy ketone, 2-hydroxy-1,2-di(phenyl)ethanone, synthesized from benzaldehyde; any derivative of this compound.
3. (countable, uncountable) The spicebush, Lindera benzoin.

Forms

Deriveds

furoin · benzoic · benjamin · deoxybenzoin · benzene · flowers of benzoin · benzoinated

Relateds

benjamin

Translations (22)

hi गुग्गुल (resinous substance from tree) · fr benzoïne (white crystalline substance) · hi गूगल (resinous substance from tree) · pl benzoes (resinous substance from tree) · hi गुग्गुल (white crystalline substance) · pl benzoina (white crystalline substance) · es benjuí (resinous substance from tree) · ca benjuí (resinous substance from tree) · id benzoin (resinous substance from tree) · pl będźwin (resinous substance from tree) · hi गूगल (white crystalline substance) · pt beijoim (resinous substance from tree) · de Benzoe (resinous substance from tree) · th กำยาน (resinous substance from tree) · hu benzoe (resinous substance from tree) · pl styraks (resinous substance from tree) · id kemenyan (resinous substance from tree) · ar لُبَان جَاوِيّ (resinous substance from tree) · el βενζόη (resinous substance from tree) · it benzoe (resinous substance from tree) · el βενζόη (white crystalline substance) · fr benjoin (resinous substance from tree)