/stawr"aks, stohr"-/ , n.
1. a solid resin with a vanillalike odor, obtained from a small tree, Styrax officinalis: formerly used in medicine and perfumery.
2. a liquid balsam (liquid storax) obtained from species of liquidambar, esp. from the wood and inner bark of Liquidambar orientalis (Levant storax) , a tree of Asia Minor: used chiefly in medicine and perfumery.
3. any shrub or tree of the genus Styrax, of the storax family, having elongated clusters of showy, white flowers.
[ 1350-1400; ME styrax stýrax ]