v.
Pronunciation: im- ' bä(l)m, em-
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English embaumen, from Anglo-French enbaumer, enbasmer, from en- + basme balm ― more at BALM
Date: 14th century
1 : to treat (a dead body) so as to protect from decay
2 : to fill with sweet odors : PERFUME
3 : to protect from decay or oblivion : PRESERVE < embalm a hero's memory>
4 : to fix in a static condition
– em · balm · er noun
– em · balm · ment \ - ' bä(l)m-m ə nt, - ' ba ̇ m- \ noun