baste

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈbāst 

basted; basting

transitive verb

: to sew with long loose stitches in order to hold something in place temporarily

baste

2 of 5

verb (2)

basted; basting

transitive verb

: to moisten (foods, especially meat) at intervals with a liquid (such as melted butter, fat, or pan drippings) especially during the cooking process to prevent drying and add flavor

baste a roast every half hour

baste

3 of 5

verb (3)

basted; basting

transitive verb

1

: to beat severely or soundly : thrash

2

: to scold vigorously : berate

baster

4 of 5

noun (1)

bast·​er ˈbā-stər 

: one that bastes food during cooking

Costco is the U.S.'s biggest seller of fine wines ($600 million a year) and baster of poultry (55,000 rotisserie chickens a day).

—John Helyar

especially : a utensil that consists of a tube with a bulb at one end that draws in and ejects liquid for basting food

a turkey baster

Let them marinate for about 1 hour, using a bulb baster to saturate the meat from time to time.

—Evan Jones

baster

5 of 5

noun (2)

: one who bastes garments or other articles : one who sews something with long, loose stitches

Basters place parts in position and fasten them by hand with coarse running stitches, generally making only a temporary fastening.

—Royal Meeker

Synonyms of baste

Verb (3)

• scold
• lecture
• criticize
• reprimand

Examples of baste in a Sentence

Verb (3)

a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings

basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Reserve the leftover marinade for basting during cooking. —Lexi Harrison, Midwest Living, 10 June 2026

Three hours at medium low heat with an adobada marinade, basting every hour or so. —Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

Noun

When a yellow-tinged solution separates from the jurema sludge below, draw it off with a turkey baster, squirt it into a baking pan, then put it in the freezer. —Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025

Moldy tomatoes, clean dishes or utensils stored in dirty areas, and use of a metal brush not designed for food as a baster marred three Miami restaurants’ state inspections, each with at least 30 violations. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English basten, borrowed from Middle French bastir, going back to Old Low Franconian *bastjan, going back to Germanic, "to bind or weave with bast strips" (whence Middle Dutch besten "to tie up, fasten with loose stitches," Old High German, "to bind with bast, mend"), verbal derivative of *basta- bast

Verb (2)

Middle English baisten, of obscure origin

Verb (3)

probably from Old Norse beysta; akin to Old English bēatan to beat

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1525, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing baste

• bulb baster

Rhymes for baste

• based
• braced
• cased
• chased
• chaste
• faced
• graced
• haste
• laced
• mayst
• paced
• paste

Kids Definition

baste

1 of 2 verb

ˈbāst 

basted; basting

: to sew with long loose stitches so as to hold the work temporarily in place

baster noun

baste

2 of 2 verb

basted; basting

: to moisten with liquid (as melted fat or juices) while roasting

baster noun