Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An aromatic annual herb (Ocimum basilicum) in the mint family, native to Asia and Africa and widely cultivated for its leaves.
- noun The leaves of this plant used as a seasoning.
- noun Any of various plants in the genus Ocimum, native to warm regions, having aromatic foliage and terminal clusters of small, usually white flowers.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A name of several labiate plants, especially of the genus Ocymum.
- noun A corruption of bezel.
- noun A corruption of basan.
- noun A large cannon throwing a heavy shot. See
basilisk , 4. - noun An iron or fetter fastened round the ankle of a prisoner.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground.
- noun The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
- transitive verb To grind or form the edge of to an angle.
- noun (Bot.) The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (
Ocymum basilicum ), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (Ocymum minimum ), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum). - noun a name given to the fragrant herbs
Calamintha Acinos andCalamintha Nepeta . - noun a plant (
Calamintha clinopodium ) of the Mint family.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
plant (Ocimum basilicum). - noun The
leaves of this plant used as aherb . - noun The angle to which a joiner's tool is ground away.
- verb transitive To grind the edge of a tool to an
acute angle. - noun The
skin of asheep tanned withbark .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun (Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-379)
- noun any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
- noun leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
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Examples
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The word basil is derived from the Greek word for king, suggesting that the ancient healers held this aromatic plant in high regard.
Earl Mindell’s New Herb Bible Earl Mindell 2008
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The word basil is derived from the Greek word for king, suggesting that the ancient healers held this aromatic plant in high regard.
Earl Mindell’s New Herb Bible Earl Mindell 2008
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The word basil is derived from the Greek word for king, suggesting that the ancient healers held this aromatic plant in high regard.
Earl Mindell’s New Herb Bible Earl Mindell 2008
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The word basil is derived from the Greek word for king, suggesting that the ancient healers held this aromatic plant in high regard.
Earl Mindell’s New Herb Bible Earl Mindell 2008
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Dr. Corry said, "We get what we call basil cell carecenomas and skin cancer on the eyes right on the margin around the eyelashes," and that requires surgery that could be prevented by thinking a little more about your eyes.
ABC 4: Top Stories 2010
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Extract the basil from the water and squeeze it dry as much as possible with your hands.
Ellen Kanner: Meatless Monday: Off The (Meat) Rack Ellen Kanner 2010
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Extract the basil from the water and squeeze it dry as much as possible with your hands.
Ellen Kanner: Meatless Monday: Off The (Meat) Rack Ellen Kanner 2010
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Fresh basil is not mentioned in the ingredients portion but I used it in addition to the dried oregano.
Sausage, Peppers and Onions : The Cooking Adventures of Chef Paz 2010
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I'm fascinated by the way this little basil is growing.
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Extract the basil from the water and squeeze it dry as much as possible with your hands.
Ellen Kanner: Meatless Monday: Off The (Meat) Rack Ellen Kanner 2010
Teach commented on the word basil
Also tanned leather of a sheep
July 1, 2009