'Basil' definitions:
Definition of 'basil'
From: WordNet
noun
Any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
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) [syn: Basil, St. Basil, Basil of Caesarea, Basil the Great, St. Basil the Great]
noun
Leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried [syn: basil, sweet basil]
Definition of 'Basil'
From: GCIDE
Definition of 'Basil'
From: GCIDE
- Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel.] The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground. --Grier. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Basil'
From: GCIDE
- Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr. basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king.] (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). [1913 Webster]
- Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs {Calamintha Acinos} and Calamintha Nepeta.
- Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Basil'
From: GCIDE
- Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bith[=a]na, prop., lining.] The skin of a sheep tanned with bark. [1913 Webster] Basilar