Is bdellium still used today?

No, it is an archaic term for a substance whose exact modern equivalent is uncertain. It is not commercially available.

How do you pronounce 'bdellium'?

The 'b' is silent. It is pronounced 'DELL-ee-um' (/ˈdɛlɪəm/).

Where is bdellium mentioned?

It appears twice in the English Bible (Genesis 2:12 and Numbers 11:7), describing a precious substance in the land of Havilah and the appearance of manna.

No. The term refers to a historical substance. Some modern resins from Commiphora trees (source of myrrh) are sometimes suggested as related, but they are not specifically sold as 'bdellium'.

Is “bdellium” formal?

Bdellium is usually archaic, technical (historical/botanical), biblical in register.

bdellium: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

very low

UK/ˈdɛlɪəm/US/ˈdɛliəm/

archaic, technical (historical/botanical), biblical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “bdellium” mean?

A semi-transparent, aromatic gum resin, historically obtained from certain trees.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A semi-transparent, aromatic gum resin, historically obtained from certain trees.

In ancient texts, particularly the Bible, it is mentioned as a precious substance; now an extremely rare or obsolete term.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference; the word is equally obscure and used in identical scholarly or biblical contexts.

Connotations

Archaism, antiquity, biblical scholarship, historical botany.

Frequency

Effectively zero in both varieties; encountered almost exclusively in translations of Genesis and Numbers, or in historical texts.

Grammar

How to Use “bdellium” in a Sentence

[Substance] bdelliumbdellium [from/of] [place/tree]bdellium, [a resin]

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

aromatic bdelliumgum bdelliumprecious bdellium

medium

like bdelliumbdellium and myrrhbdellium resin

weak

ancient bdelliumbdellium mentionedbdellium from

Examples

Examples of “bdellium” in a Sentence

verb

British English

American English

adverb

British English

American English

adjective

British English

American English

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical, theological, or botanical studies discussing ancient materials or biblical texts.

Everyday

Not used.

Technical

Used in very specialised historical pharmacology or resin taxonomy.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “bdellium”

Strong

myrrh (in certain biblical/aromatic contexts)commiphora resin (botanical)

Neutral

aromatic resingum resin

Weak

frankincense (other precious ancient resin)balm

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “bdellium”

synthetic polymermodern adhesive

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “bdellium”

Mispronouncing with a 'b' sound (/ˈbɛlɪəm/).
Confusing it with 'delirium'.
Assuming it is a modern, purchasable product.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is an archaic term for a substance whose exact modern equivalent is uncertain. It is not commercially available.
: The 'b' is silent. It is pronounced 'DELL-ee-um' (/ˈdɛlɪəm/).
: It appears twice in the English Bible (Genesis 2:12 and Numbers 11:7), describing a precious substance in the land of Havilah and the appearance of manna.
: No. The term refers to a historical substance. Some modern resins from Commiphora trees (source of myrrh) are sometimes suggested as related, but they are not specifically sold as 'bdellium'.
: A semi-transparent, aromatic gum resin, historically obtained from certain trees.
: Bdellium is usually archaic, technical (historical/botanical), biblical in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“None”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'The DELL had an ium (element) that was a rare, sticky gum.'

Conceptual Metaphor

ANCIENT VALUE IS AN OPAQUE SUBSTANCE (from its biblical description).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In the Book of Genesis, the land of Havilah was said to have gold and aromatic .

Multiple Choice

Bdellium is best described as: