noun
frankincense
FRANG-kuhn-sehns
noun
1
A fragrant resin from Boswellia trees, dried and burned as incense.
"The temple filled with the smoky scent of frankincense."
"Frankincense is one of the gifts the Magi bring in the Nativity story."
How to Use Frankincense
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA resin burned for its sweet, woody smoke, historically prized and traded like a luxury good.
Common pairings
frankincense and myrrh
burn frankincense
Word Forms
frankincenses plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “frankincense”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The temple filled with the smoky scent of _____.
Etymology
From Old French franc encens, literally "high-quality incense" — "franc" here meaning noble or pure rather than free.