benzoin

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A balsamic resin obtained from certain tropical Asian trees of the genus Styrax and used in perfumery and medicine. Also called benjamin, gum benjamin, gum benzoin.
2. n. A white or yellowish crystalline compound, C₁₄H₁₂O₂, derived from benzaldehyde.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Gum benjamin; the concrete resinous juice of Styrax Benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, and the Malay peninsula, obtained by incisions into the bark. The benzoin of commerce is obtained from both Sumatra and Siam, that from Siam being much superior to the other in quality. When rubbed or heated, it has a fragrant and agreeable odor. It is chiefly used in cosmetics and perfumes, and in incense in Roman Catholic and Greek churches, and is the base of the tincture called friars' or Turlington's balsam, long famous as a remedy for bronchitis and an effective application to indolent sores, etc. It forms the medicinal ingredient of court-plaster. See Styrax.
2. n. [capitalized] A genus of aromatic dicotyledonous trees or shrubs of the family Lauraceæ. See Lindera.
3. n. A compound, C₆H₅CHOHCOC₆H₅, formed when benzaldehyde is boiled with alcohol containing a little potassium cyanide. It melts at 130° C. and boils at 344° C. Also diphenylethanolone.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from the 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.
2. n. A white crystalline substance, C14H12O2, obtained from benzoic aldehyde and some other sources.
3. n. (Bot.) The spicebush (Lindera benzoin).

WordNet 3.0

1. n. used in some classifications for the American spicebush and certain other plants often included in the genus Lindera
2. n. gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation