melissa
n. uncountablen. a sweet-smelling plant with leaves that smell like lemon, often used to make tea or medicine.
n. a perennial herb in the mint family, specifically Melissa officinalis, cultivated for its lemon-scented foliage and medicinal properties.
I grow melissa in my garden to make fresh herbal tea.
The herbalist recommended a tincture of melissa to help the patient manage mild anxiety and sleep issues.
Commonly known as lemon balm, melissa has been prized since antiquity for its volatile oils, which are frequently extracted for use in aromatherapy and traditional digestive remedies.
From Ancient Greek μέλισσα (mélissa, “bee, honey, or honeybee”). In Ireland it is sometimes used as a feminine form of the Gaelic male name Maol Íosa (literally “servant of Jesus”).