Basil

UK: /ˈbæz^əl/

US: /ˈbæzəl, ˈbeɪzəl/

US: (baz′əl, bas′-, bā′zəl, -səl)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Basil / ˈbæz^əl/ noun

1. Saint, called the Great. ?329–379 ad, Greek patriarch: an opponent of Arianism and one of the founders of monasticism. Feast day: Jan 2, June 14, or Jan 1

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bas•il /ˈbæzəl, ˈbeɪzəl/   n. [uncountable]

1. Plant Biology, Food a sweet-smelling herb of the mint family whose leaves are used in cooking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bas•il  (baz′əl, bas′-, bā′zəl, -səl), n. 

1. Plant Biology any of several aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Ocimum, of the mint family, as O. basilicum (sweet basil), having purplish-green ovate leaves used in cooking.

• Greek basilikón, neuter of basilikós royal. See basilic
• Late Latin basilicum
• Middle French
• late Middle English basile 1400–50

Bas•il  (baz′əl, bas′-, bā′zəl, -səl), n. 

1. Biographical Saint. Also, Basilius. ("the Great''), a.d. 329?–379, bishop of Caesarea in Asia Minor (brother of Saint Gregory of Nyssa).
2. a male given name: from a Greek word meaning "royal.''

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

basil / ˈbæz^əl/ noun

1. Also called: sweet basil a Eurasian plant, Ocimum basilicum, having spikes of small white flowers and aromatic leaves used as herbs for seasoning: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French basile, from Late Latin basilicum, from Greek basilikon, from basilikos royal, from basileus king