noun
1. : a medium-sized fir ( Abies balsamea ) that is widely distributed in northeastern No. America, has a rather smooth gray or brown bark with many resin-filled blisters, flat dark green needles with rounded tips, upright purplish cones, and soft weak wood resembling but inferior as lumber to that of the eastern spruce, is the source of Canada balsam, and is much used for pulpwood and for Christmas trees — called also balm of Gilead ; see tree illustration
2. : any of certain southern and western firs of the genus Abies: as
a. : fraser fir
b. : white fir 1a(1)