verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ɪmˈbɑːm/
General-American:/ɪmˈbɑm/
General-American:/ɪmˈbɔm/
General-American:/ɪmˈbɑlm/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɑːm
rhymes with -ɑːlm
CMU ARPABET:EH0 M B AA1 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To treat a corpse with preservatives in order to prevent decomposition.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To preserve.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To perfume or add fragrance to something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
preserve a dead body
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: conserve, preserve, maintain, keep up
Narrower terms: mummify
History
Etymology
From Middle English enbawmen, from Middle French embaumer, from Old French embasmer. See balm.
Across languages
Translations
45 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
حَنَّطَ
(ḥannaṭa)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Arabic:
أَحْنَطَ
(ʔaḥnaṭa)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Belarusian:
бальзамава́ць
(balʹzamavácʹ)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Belarusian:
забальзамава́ць
(zabalʹzamavácʹ)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Bulgarian:
балсамирам
(balsamiram)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Czech:
balzamovat
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Dutch:
balsemen
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Egyptian:
s-d-w-x-Aa2:D40
(sdwḫ)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Finnish:
palsamoida
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
French:
embaumer
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Galician:
embalsamar
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
German:
einbalsamieren
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Greek:
ταριχεύω
(tarichévo)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Ancient Greek:
ταριχεύω
(tarikheúō)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Hebrew:
חָנַט
(ẖanát)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Ido:
embalmar
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Irish:
balsamaigh
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Italian:
imbalsamare
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Latin:
condiō
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Macedonian:
балсамира
(balsamira)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Middle English:
bawmen
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Middle English:
enbawmen
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Polish:
balsamować
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Polish:
zabalsamować
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Portuguese:
embalsamar
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Russian:
бальзамировать
(balʹzamirovatʹ)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Russian:
забальзами́ровать
(zabalʹzamírovatʹ)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Slovak:
balzamovať
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Spanish:
embalsamar
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Swedish:
balsamera
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Turkish:
tahnitlemek
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Turkish:
tahnit etmek
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Ukrainian:
бальзамува́ти
(balʹzamuváty)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Ukrainian:
забальзамува́ти
(zabalʹzamuváty)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Ukrainian:
забальзамо́вувати
(zabalʹzamóvuvaty)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Yiddish:
אײַנבאַלזאַמיִרן
(aynbalzamirn)
— to treat a corpse in order to prevent decomposition
Bulgarian:
парфюмирам
(parfjumiram)
— to perfume
Bulgarian:
напарфюмирам
(naparfjumiram)
— to perfume
