any of numerous styracaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Styrax, of tropical and subtropical regions, having drooping showy white flowers
2.
a vanilla-scented solid resin obtained from one of these trees, Styrax officinalis of the Mediterranean region and SW Asia, formerly used as incense and in perfumery and medicine
3.
a liquid aromatic balsam obtained from liquidambar trees, esp Liquidambar orientalis of SW Asia, and used in perfumery and medicine
Word origin
C14: via Late Latin from Greek, variant of styrax
storax in American English
(ˈstɔræks)
noun
1.
the aromatic balsam exuded by liquidambar trees, used in medicine and perfumery
2.
a fragrant, solid resin obtained from a small, E Mediterranean tree (Styrax officinalis) of the storax family, formerly used as incense
3.
any of a genus (Styrax) of chiefly tropical trees and shrubs of the storax family, with drooping clusters of showy white flowers
adjective
4.
designating a family (Styracaceae, order Ebenales) of widely distributed dicotyledonous trees or shrubs, as the snowbell
Word origin
ME < L storax, styrax < Gr styrax, of Sem orig., as in Heb tsori, terebinth resin