Basil

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈbæzˌəl/
• Rhymes: -æzÉ™l
• Canada IPA: /ˈbeɪzˌəl/
• Rhymes: -eɪzÉ™l

From Old French basile, from Medieval Latin basilicum, from Ancient Greek βασιλικόν (basilikon, "royal"), from βασιλεύς (basileus, "king").

Full definition of basil

Noun

1. A plant (Ocimum basilicum).
2. The leaves of this plant used as a herb.
3. Any other species in the genus Ocimum.

Synonyms

• (plant) albahaca, St. Joseph's wort, sweet basil

Derived terms

• Asian basil
• basil thyme
• holy basil
• Lao basil
• lemon basil
• sweet basil
• Thai basil
• wild basil

Variant of bezel?

Noun

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

Verb

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

Synonyms

• bevel, sharpen

Corrupted from English basan, French basane, Late Latin basanium, from Arabic, properly "lining".

Noun

1. The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

Synonyms

• basan, bazil

Anagrams

• bails