albahaca

noun

al·​ba·​ha·​ca

ˌal-bə-ˈhä-kə,

-ˈha-

plural -s

: any of several aromatic plants of the family Labiatae especially of the genus Ocimum

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Arabic al-ḥabaqah the basil

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!