Definition of BASILS

Examples of basil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

If not serving immediately, wait to add torn basil until just before serving. — al, "Serve a meal inspired by Alabama’s 200-year history," 20 Aug. 2019 Spicy tuna bruschetta is a nice appetizer mashup, and the watermelon and feta salad, bolstered by red onion, grape tomatoes and torn basil, is a refreshing starter. — Phil Vettel, chicagotribune.com, "Two pizzerias making a splash along the Chicago River — one with Phil Vettel’s favorite pizza crust in town," 15 Aug. 2019 Add optional filling ingredients like fresh basil or toasted pine nuts. — Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, "Squash blossoms, stuffed with cheese and fit to be fried," 31 July 2019 Guests dined on tomato basil soup, roast beef sandwiches and blueberry pie — an homage to the Three Course Dinner Chewing Gum that was character Violet Beauregarde’s downfall. — Sara Cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, "La Cañada officials recreate world of Wonka in city-sponsored mixer," 19 July 2019 The garden is in a sunny room on the 12th floor of the 16th & Market Affordable Workforce Apartments, where basil and lettuce has been growing from white plastic tubes filled with water for the past few months. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Jobs program growing with hydroponics at Father Joe’s," 27 Aug. 2019 Carnochan harvested Swiss chard, okra, basil and other items one recent morning. — Cortlynn Stark, Washington Post, "School gardens thrive with summer volunteer program," 25 Aug. 2019 Moving among rows of aeroponic growing towers the pickers plucked leafy greens, herbs and edible flowers like Genovese basil and red Russian kale, washed them and packed them in coolers. — Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, "Denver urban farming trend grows from a Sloan’s Lake condo tower to a Larimer Square parking garage," 4 Aug. 2019 This summer bolognese combines cherry tomatoes, chiles, basil, and just enough meat for a weeknight-friendly take on the classic Italian ragù. — Aliza Abarbanel, Bon Appétit, "This Summer Bolognese Is Fresher, Faster, and Just as Good as the Classic," 30 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'basil.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for basil

Noun

Middle English basyl, basyle, shortening (perhaps by confusion with Middle French basile "basilisk") of Middle French basilic or its source, Medieval Latin basilicon, borrowed from Greek basilikón (for presumed basilikòn phytón "royal plant"), noun derivative from neuter of basilikós "royal" — more at basilica

Note: The word basilikón as a name for a plant or herb is marginally attested in ancient and early post-classical Greek, the usual word for what is presumed to be Ocimum basilicum in Greek being ṓkimon. The identity of a lákhanon basilikón ("royal herb") in the pseudo-Aristotelian De plantis (2nd century b.c.) is uncertain. The lexicon of Hesychius (5th-6th centuries a.d., incorporating much ancient material) glosses ṓkimon as "fragrant herb, called basilikón" ("botánē euṓdēs, tò legómenon basilikón").

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