basil

IPA/ˈbæzl/
KK[bˈæzəl]IPA/ˈbeɪzl/

basil — noun

1. a leafy green plant with a strong, sweet smell, whose leaves are added to food —

1.nounB1
Definition

a leafy green plant with a strong, sweet smell, whose leaves are added to food — especially Italian and Thai dishes — to give them flavour.

Example

Ayana sprinkled torn basil leaves over the warm tomato salad before serving.

typical collocation: basil over tomato / pasta dishes

The pizza was topped with mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fresh basil from the garden.

collocation: fresh basil

Common collocations
  • fresh basil
  • dried basil
  • basil leaves
  • chopped basil
  • a sprig of basil
  • tomato and basil
Synonyms
  • sweet basil

    the most common culinary variety (Ocimum basilicum); often interchangeable with plain 'basil' in recipes

Grammar Patterns

fresh / dried basil

a sprig of basil

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable: 'some basil', 'a sprig of basil', 'a handful of basil', not 'a basil' or 'two basils'. The countable form 'basils' only appears in botanical or specialist contexts to mean different species of the plant.

Common Mistakes

I bought two basils at the market.
I bought two bunches of basil at the market.
basil is uncountable; quantify with 'bunch', 'sprig', 'handful', or 'pot'.
Add basils to the sauce.
Add basil to the sauce.
no plural -s when referring to the herb.

Common collocations

Nouns

  • basil leaves
  • basil pesto
  • basil oil
  • tomato and basil
  • basil plant

Phrases

  • fresh basil
  • dried basil
  • chopped basil
  • a sprig of basil
  • a handful of basil

Prepositions

  • basil in (a dish)
  • basil on (a pizza)
  • basil from (the garden)

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Arrived in late Middle English from Old French 'basile' and Medieval Latin 'basilicum', which both come from the Greek 'basilikon' meaning 'royal' (from 'basileus', king) — the Greeks called it the 'royal plant', possibly because it was used in making royal perfumes or because its smell was considered fit for a king.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1