---
title: balm — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «balm» in the school dictionary: A balm is a thick, oily cream or ointment that soothes, heals or protects the skin. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balm/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [B](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/) / balm

# balm

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** balm, thick oily cream, you, lips, Grandma, my · **What happens:** be, soothe, heal, protect, comfort, calm · **To what, where:** thick oily cream, skin, anything, you, her, Music

<!-- .vabout -->
«balm» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [balm in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/balm.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A balm is a thick, oily cream or ointment that soothes, heals or protects the skin.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:m1:1
# text = A balm is a thick, oily cream or ointment that soothes, heals or protects the skin.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	thick	thick	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	oily	oily	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	cream	cream	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	ointment	ointment	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	conj	_	_
11	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	12	nsubj	_	_
12	soothes	soothe	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
14	heals	heal	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
16	protects	protect	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	conj	_	_
17	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
18	skin	skin	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a balm | a thick oily cream or ointment |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **soothe** | present | a thick oily cream or ointment |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **heal** | present | a thick oily cream or ointment *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |
| 4 | **protect** | present | a thick oily cream or ointment *not said here* | the skin |  |  |  |  | vn defend-72.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent skin=Beneficiary |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A balm is anything that comforts or calms you, as in «Music was a balm to her».

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:m2:1
# text = A balm is anything that comforts or calms you, as in «Music was a balm to her».
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	cop	_	_
4	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	comforts	comfort	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	calms	calm	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
9	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
11	as	as	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
13	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	Music	music	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	obl	_	_
15	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
17	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	_
18	to	to	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
19	her	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	17	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a balm | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **comfort** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V ADV-Middle»: agent=Experiencer |
| 3 | **calm** | present |  | you |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus you=Experiencer |
| 4 | **is** *in a quote* | past |  |  | her *= she* | Music |  | as a balm | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Balm can also be a sweet-smelling herb, such as lemon balm, used to make teas.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:m3:1
# text = Balm can also be a sweet-smelling herb, such as lemon balm, used to make teas.
1	Balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	_
3	also	also	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
4	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	sweet	sweet	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	smelling	smell	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	9	amod	_	_
9	herb	herb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	14	case	_	_
12	as	as	ADP	IN	_	11	fixed	_	_
13	lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	16	punct	_	_
16	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	14	acl	_	_
17	to	to	PART	TO	_	18	mark	_	_
18	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	16	advcl	_	_
19	teas	tea	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** | can | Balm | a smelling herb and lemon balm |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **use** | participle |  | lemon balm *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **make** | to-infinitive |  | teas |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset tea=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Put on lip balm so your lips don't crack.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x1:1
# text = Put on lip balm so your lips don't crack.
1	Put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	on	on	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	lip	lip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
6	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
7	lips	lip	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
8	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
10	crack	crack	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	1	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **put** | imperative | you *not said here* |  |  | lip balm |  |  | vn put-9.1-2 «NP V PP.destination NP»: agent=Agent on balm=Destination |
| 2 | **not** **crack** | present · do-support | your lips |  |  |  |  |  | vn sound\_emission-43.2 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Grandma rubbed balm on my itchy bite.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x2:1
# text = Grandma rubbed balm on my itchy bite.
1	Grandma	grandma	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	rubbed	rub	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
4	on	on	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	itchy	itchy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	bite	bite	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **rub** | past | Grandma | balm |  | my itchy bite |  |  | vn spray-9.7-1 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent balm=Theme on bite=Destination |
| 2 | **bite** |  | my |  |  |  |  |  | nom bite «state transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The cool breeze was a balm after the hot day.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x3:1
# text = The cool breeze was a balm after the hot day.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	cool	cool	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	breeze	breeze	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	hot	hot	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the cool breeze | a balm |  |  | day |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
This balm smells of mint.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x4:1
# text = This balm smells of mint.
1	This	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	2	det	_	_
2	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	smells	smell	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	of	of	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	mint	mint	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **smell** | present | this balm |  |  |  |  | of mint | vn smell\_emission-43.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Location of mint=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Lemon balm grows in our herb garden.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x5:1
# text = Lemon balm grows in our herb garden.
1	Lemon	lemon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	compound	_	_
2	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	grows	grow	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
5	our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	herb	herb	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	compound	_	_
7	garden	garden	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | present | Lemon balm |  |  | our herb garden |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme in garden=Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
His kind words were a balm to her sadness.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:balm:x6:1
# text = His kind words were a balm to her sadness.
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	3	nmod:poss	_	_
2	kind	kind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
4	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	balm	balm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	sadness	sadness	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | His kind words | a balm |  |  |  | to her sadness | tree rules |
| 2 | **word** |  | His *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom word «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [ballroom](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/ballroom/)
- next →: [balmoral](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/balmoral/)
- ↑ back to [B in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/)