lemon balm

noun

|Updated on: 10 Jul 2018

Definition of lemon balm

: a bushy perennial European mint (Melissa officinalis) often cultivated for its lemon-scented leaves; also : its leaves

Recent Examples of lemon balm from the Web

Herbs: Anise, basil, bay laurel, chive, dill, ginger, lemon balm, Mexican tarragon, mint, oregano, sage, sweet marjoram and thyme.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "July in the garden," 30 June 2018
In addition to the above, the other herbs featured in our kitchen cutting garden include dill, tarragon, oregano, thyme, rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm, basil, St. John’s Wort and lavender.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "‘Goat’ herb garden always within convenient kitchen reach," 22 June 2018
The spirit is distilled from Kansas wheat and steeped with grand and Roman wormwood, fennel, star anise, hyssop, spearmint, peppermint, melissa leaf (lemon balm), chamomile and hibiscus.

— anne brockhoff, kansascity, "Is your cocktail in season? Bartenders letting gardens dictate what's in your glass," 24 Apr. 2018
Herb thugs in my yard are tansy and clivers (medicinal use), and garlic chives (aka Chinese leeks) and lemon balm (culinary use).

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Growing and drying herbs in summer is a great way to benefit your culinary world," 8 June 2018
Perfect for the gardener who can't tell his lemon grass from his lemon balm.

— sandy guerra-cline, star-telegram, "The top 10 list: Let the weekend begin ... please | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 16 May 2018
Spices like sage, rosemary and lemon balm have been shown to improve memory (Phytomedicine, Jan. 15, 2018).

— joe graedon, m.s., and teresa graedon, Houston Chronicle, "Will zinc help hirsutism in women?," 13 May 2018
Delicious treats like basil, lemon balm, catnip, and lavender are garden delights, often perennials, and keep away horrible pests.

— rebecca kurson, Good Housekeeping, "10 Genius Tips For Dog-Proofing Your Garden," 17 Jan. 2018
Seedsheet sells easy-to-grow cocktail garden sheets seeded with Thai basil, cutting celery, pea shoots, purple basil, lemon balm, tulsi (a type of basil), borage and bronze fennel greens; the website includes recipes featuring each.

— anne brockhoff, kansascity, "Is your cocktail in season? Bartenders letting gardens dictate what's in your glass | The Kansas City Star," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lemon balm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lemon balm

1864

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

lemon balm

noun

medical Definition of lemon balm

: a bushy perennial Old World mint of the genus Melissa (M. officinalis) often cultivated for its fragrant lemon-flavored leaves and tops that have been used to make a diaphoretic tea