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adj

balmy

BAH-mee
adj
1
Of weather, pleasantly warm and mild.
"It was a balmy evening, perfect for dining outside."
"The balmy breeze off the sea made the walk lovely."
2
Slightly crazy or foolish (British slang).
"You'd have to be balmy to try that stunt."

How to Use Balmy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPleasantly mild weather, or (informally, mainly UK) a bit mad.

UK vs US

The "crazy" sense is distinctly British and rarely used in American English.

Easily confused with

Word Forms

balmier comparative, balmiest superlative

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Fill the Gap

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It was a _____ evening, perfect for dining outside.

Etymology

From "balm" plus -y, originally describing air as soft and fragrant as balm; the "crazy" sense developed separately in British slang.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial