galbanum

G2A1L1B3A1N1U1M3
/ˈɡælbənəm/

noun

A bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula, that resembles assafoetida and has been used in incense and in aromatherapy

Similar
gum albanum
OriginLatin galbanum ← Ancient Greek χαλβάνη →
RareScrabble 13
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Meanings

noungalbanum (countable and uncountable, plural galbanums)

plural galbanums

  1. countableuncountableA bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula, that resembles assafoetida and has been used in incense and in aromatherapy

    And the Lord said to Moses: Take unto thee spices, stacte, and onycha, galbanum of sweet savour, and the clearest frankincense, all shall be of equal weight.

    1610, Douay–Rheims Bible, Exodus 30:34
    1 more example

    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

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna bitter aromatic gum resin that resembles asafetida

Similar
gum albanum
Broader
gum

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekχαλβάνη“galbanum”
  2. Latingalbanum“galbanum”
  3. Englishgalbanum

From Latin galbanum (“galbanum”), from Ancient Greek χαλβάνη (khalbánē, “galbanum”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek χαλβάνη
  • χαλβάνη (khalbánē)bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
German Galbanharz
  • Galbanharzbitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Hebrew חֶלְבְּנָה
  • חֶלְבְּנָה (ẖelbená)bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Italian galbano
  • galbanobitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Latin galbanum
  • galbanumbitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Persian باریجه, بیرزد
  • باریجه (bârije)bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
  • بیرزد (bârzad)bitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Tagalog galbano
  • galbanobitter, aromatic resin or gum, extracted from plants of the genus Ferula
Cite this entry
APA

galbanum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galbanum

MLA

“galbanum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galbanum. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “galbanum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galbanum.

Source: galbanum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.