Definition of Basil

1. Noun. Any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum.

Generic synonyms: Herb, Herbaceous Plant
Group relationships: Genus Ocimum, Ocimum
Specialized synonyms: Common Basil, Ocimum Basilicum, Sweet Basil

2. 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).

3. Noun. Leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried.
Exact synonyms: Sweet Basil
Generic synonyms: Herb
Group relationships: Common Basil, Ocimum Basilicum, Sweet Basil

Definition of Basil

1. n. The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground.

2. v. t. To grind or form the edge of to an angle.

3. n. 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 (O. minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum).

4. n. The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

Definition of Basil

1. Acronym. biphasic acid scavenging utilising ionic liquids ¹

2. Proper noun. (Ancient Greek male given name), in quiet but steady use in the UK. ¹

3. Noun. A plant (''Ocimum basilicum''). ¹

4. Noun. The leaves of this plant used as a herb. ¹

5. Noun. The angle to which a joiner's tool is ground away. ¹

6. Verb. (transitive) To grind the edge of a tool to an acute angle. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Basil

1. an aromatic herb [n -S]

Medical Definition of Basil

1. The skin of a sheep tanned with bark. Origin: Corrupt. From E. Basan, F. Basane, LL. Basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. Bithana, prop, lining. 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 (O. Minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum). Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha Acinos and C. Nepeta. Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family. Origin: F. Basilic, fr. L. Badilicus royal, Gr, fr. King. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Basil

basifications
basified
basifier
basifiers
basifies
basifixed
basifugal
basify
basifying
basigynia
basigynium
basihyal
basihyals
basihyoid
basihyoids
basil (current term)
basil balm
basil mint
basil thyme
basilar
basilar angle
basilar apophysis
basilar artery
basilar bone
basilar cartilage
basilar crest of cochlear duct
basilar fibrocartilage
basilar index

Literary usage of Basil

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge: Embracing by Johann Jakob Herzog, Philip Schaff, Albert Hauck (1908)
"The first years of his life basil spent on a rural family estate under the guidance of his grandmother, Macrina (qv), whom he always remembered with ..."

2. A History of Greece: From Its Conquest by the Romans to the Present Time, B by George Finlay (1877)
"Character of basil II.—Rebellions of Bardas Skleros and of Bardas Phokas. ... basil puts out the eyes of his prisoners.—Conquest of the kingdom of ..."

3. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (1901)
"basil was the acknowledged sovereign of Constantinople and the provinces of Europe ; but Asia was oppressed by two veteran generals, ..."

4. The Quarterly Review by William Gifford, George Walter Prothero, John Gibson Lockhart, John Murray, Whitwell Elwin, John Taylor Coleridge, Rowland Edmund Prothero Ernle, William Macpherson, William Smith (1897)
"Letters and Select Works of St. basil. Translated Vicar of St. Bartholomew's, Moor Lane, and Fellow of with prolegomena, &c., by Blomfield Jackson, MA, ..."

5. Macmillan's Magazine by David Masson, George Grove, John Morley, Mowbray Morris (1903)
"The house-surgeon was hardly any older than basil himself and he scrutinised ... “Yes,” said basil. He was gripping that little dictionary as if he meant to ..."

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