benzoin noun. ['bɛnzǝʊɪn] Also benjoin. M16.
[French benjoin = Spanish benjuí, Portuguese benjoim, Italian benzoi, from Proto-Romance from Arab. lubānjāwī incense from Sumatra (the Proto-Romance reflex of lu- being taken for the def. article).]
1. A fragrant aromatic resin obtained from eastern Asian trees of the genus Styrax. Also gum benzoin. Cf. BENJAMIN noun¹. M16.

2. The spicebush, Lindera benzoin. (Formerly a genus name.) M18.

3. Chemistry. A colourless crystalline ketone that is present in gum benzoin; 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone, C₆H₅CHOHCOC₆H₅. M19.

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