noun · 2 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
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American:/ˈfɹæŋkənˌsɛns/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:F R AE1 NG K AH0 N S EH2 N S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A type of incense obtained from the Boswellia thurifera tree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: olibanum
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
an aromatic gum resin obtained from various Arabian or East African trees; formerly valued for worship and for embalming and fumigation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: olibanum, gum olibanum, thus
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gum
History
Etymology
From Old French franc encens (“noble incense”).
Across languages
Translations
88 source translations are retained for this English entry.
