incense tree

2 definitions found

incense tree - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Incense \In"cense\, n. [OE. encens, F. encens, L. incensum, fr.
     incensus, p. p. of incendere to burn. See Incense to
     inflame.]
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     1. The perfume or odors exhaled from spices and gums when
        burned in celebrating religious rites or as an offering to
        some deity.
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              A thick cloud of incense went up.     --Ezek. viii.
                                                    11.
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     2. The materials used for the purpose of producing a perfume
        when burned, as fragrant gums, spices, frankincense, etc.
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              Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of
              them his censer, and put fire therein, and put
              incense thereon.                      --Lev. x. 1.
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     3. Also used figuratively.
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              Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride,
              With incense kindled at the Muse's flame. --Gray.
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     Incense tree, the name of several balsamic trees of the
        genus Bursera (or Icica) mostly tropical American. The
        gum resin is used for incense. In Jamaica the
        Chrysobalanus Icaco, a tree related to the plums, is
        called incense tree.
  
     Incense wood, the fragrant wood of the tropical American
        tree Bursera heptaphylla.
        [1913 Webster]

incense tree - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  incense tree
      n 1: any of various tropical trees of the family Burseraceae
           yielding fragrant gums or resins that are burned as incense