different between balm vs solution

English

Etymology

From Middle English bawme, from Anglo-Norman and Middle French baume, from Old French basme, from Latin balsamum, itself from Ancient Greek ???????? (bálsamon). Spelling modified 16th c. to conform to Latin etymology. Doublet of balsam.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /b??m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /b?m/, /b?lm/
• Rhymes: -??m
• Homophone: bomb (for speakers with the father-bother merger)

Noun

balm (countable and uncountable, plural balms)

1. 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. A plant or tree yielding such substance.
3. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one.

   There is a balm in Gilead... (Spiritual)

4. (figuratively) Something soothing.

   Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows.
5. The lemon balm, Melissa officinalis
6. Any of a number of other aromatic herbs with a similar citrus-like scent, such as bee balm and horse balm.

Synonyms

• (aromatic resin): balsam
• (plant or tree): balsam
• (soothing oil or lotion): balsam
• (something soothing): balsam

Related terms

• balmy
• balsam
• embalming

Translations

Verb

balm (third-person singular simple present balms, present participle balming, simple past and past participle balmed)

1. (transitive, archaic) To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal.
2. (transitive, figuratively) To soothe; to mitigate.

See also

• lotion
• ointment
• unguent

Anagrams

• ALBM, BAML, LBMA, Lamb, blam, lamb

English

Etymology

From Old French solucion (French solution), from Latin sol?ti?nem, accusative singular of sol?ti?, from the verb solv?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s??l(j)u???n/
• Rhymes: -u???n

Noun

solution (countable and uncountable, plural solutions)

1. A homogeneous mixture, which may be liquid, gas or solid, formed by dissolving one or more substances.
2. An act, plan or other means, used or proposed, to solve a problem.
3. The answer to a problem.
4. (marketing) A product, service or suite thereof, especially software.
5. (law, Britain, archaic, rare) Satisfaction of a claim or debt.
6. The act of dissolving, especially of a solid by a fluid; dissolution.
7. (medicine, archaic) The crisis of a disease.

Antonyms

• (answer to a problem): problem
• (act of dissolving): precipitation

Related terms

Translations

Verb

solution (third-person singular simple present solutions, present participle solutioning, simple past and past participle solutioned)

1. To treat with a solution.

French

Etymology

From Old French solucion, from Latin sol?ti?nem, accusative singular of sol?ti?, from the verb solv?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s?.ly.sj??/
• Homophone: solutions

Noun

solution f (plural solutions)

1. solution
2. liquid mix

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Romanian: solu?ie

Further reading

• “solution” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).