benzoin
English
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benzoin
- /ˈbɛnzəʊɪn/ UK
- /ˈbɛnzɔɪn/ UK
Rhymes with -ɛnzəʊɪn, -ɛnzɔɪn
Where it comes from
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.
noun benzoins
- 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. 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, asph
- An aromatic hydroxy ketone, 2-hydroxy-1,2-di(phenyl)ethanone, synthesized from benzaldehyde; any derivative of this compound.
- The spicebush, Lindera benzoin.
Translations
Talk about this word "benzoin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/benzoin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. benzoin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/benzoin "benzoin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/benzoin.Cite this
@misc{benzoin_2026,
title = {benzoin},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/benzoin},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
