baste

UK: /ˈbeɪst/ US: /beɪst/ ,(bāst)

Inflections of 'baste' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

bastes

v 3rd person singular

basting

v pres p

basted

v past

basted

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

baste¹ /beɪst/   v. [~ + object] , bast•ed, bast•ing. 

1. Clothing to sew with long, loose temporary stitches.

bast•er, n. [countable]

baste² /beɪst/   v. [~ + object] , bast•ed, bast•ing. 

1. to moisten (food) with drippings, etc., while cooking.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

baste¹  (bāst), v.t., bast•ed, bast•ing. 

1. Clothing to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.

• Gmc; compare Old High German bestan to mend, patch for *bastian to bring together with bast thread or string (bast bast + -i- verb, verbal suffix + -an infinitive suffix)
• Anglo-French, Middle French bastir to build, baste
• late Middle English basten 1400–50

baste²  (bāst), v., bast•ed, bast•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.

n. 

2. Food liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking:
   a baste of sherry and pan juices.

• late Middle English basten, of obscure origin, originally 1425–75

baste³  (bāst), v.t., bast•ed, bast•ing. 

1. to beat with a stick;
   thrash;
   cudgel.
2. to denounce or scold vigorously:
   an editorial basting the candidate for irresponsible statements.

• Old Norse beysta to beat, thrash
• variant of baist, perh. 1525–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

baste / beɪst/ verb

1. (transitive) to sew with loose temporary stitches

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French bastir to build, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German besten to sew with bast

baste / beɪst/ verb

1. to moisten (meat) during cooking with hot fat and the juices produced

Etymology: 15th Century: of uncertain origin

baste / beɪst/ verb

1. (transitive) to beat thoroughly; thrash

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from Old Norse beysta