BASIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Basil mean? 

• BASIL (noun)
  The noun BASIL has 3 senses:

1. any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum

2. (Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-379)

3. leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried

  Familiarity information: BASIL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BASIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("basil" is a kind of...):

herb; herbaceous plant (a plant lacking a permanent woody stem; many are flowering garden plants or potherbs; some having medicinal properties; some are pests)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "basil"):

common basil; Ocimum basilicum; sweet basil (annual or perennial of tropical Asia having spikes of small white flowers and aromatic leaves; one of the most important culinary herbs; used in salads, casseroles, sauces and some liqueurs)

Holonyms ("basil" is a member of...):

genus Ocimum; Ocimum (basil)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-379)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Basil; Basil of Caesarea; Basil the Great; St. Basil; St. Basil the Great

Instance hypernyms:

Church Father; Father; Father of the Church ((Christianity) any of about 70 theologians in the period from the 2nd to the 7th century whose writing established and confirmed official church doctrine; in the Roman Catholic Church some were later declared saints and became Doctor of the Church; the best known Latin Church Fathers are Ambrose, Augustine, Gregory the Great, and Jerome; those who wrote in Greek include Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom)

Doctor; Doctor of the Church ((Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the orthodoxy of their theological teaching)

saint (a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization)

theologian; theologiser; theologist; theologizer (someone who is learned in theology or who speculates about theology)

Domain category:

Church of Rome; Roman Catholic; Roman Catholic Church; Roman Church; Western Church (the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Synonyms:

basil; sweet basil

Hypernyms ("basil" is a kind of...):

herb (aromatic potherb used in cookery for its savory qualities)

Holonyms ("basil" is a part of...):

common basil; Ocimum basilicum; sweet basil (annual or perennial of tropical Asia having spikes of small white flowers and aromatic leaves; one of the most important culinary herbs; used in salads, casseroles, sauces and some liqueurs)

 Context examples 

There had been some talking in gruff voices outside, and now Mrs. Hudson opened the door to say that there were three men inquiring for Captain Basil.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

'Old fellow!' cried Sir Basil, 'it is Admiral Baldwin. What do you take his age to be?' 'Sixty,' said I, 'or perhaps sixty-two.' 'Forty,' replied Sir Basil, 'forty, and no more.'

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I therefore spent some days in the East End, devised an Arctic expedition, put forth tempting terms for harpooners who would serve under Captain Basil—and behold the result!

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One day last spring, in town, I was in company with two men, striking instances of what I am talking of; Lord St Ives, whose father we all know to have been a country curate, without bread to eat; I was to give place to Lord St Ives, and a certain Admiral Baldwin, the most deplorable-looking personage you can imagine; his face the colour of mahogany, rough and rugged to the last degree; all lines and wrinkles, nine grey hairs of a side, and nothing but a dab of powder at top. 'In the name of heaven, who is that old fellow?' said I to a friend of mine who was standing near, (Sir Basil Morley).

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Send three men on, to arrive ten to-morrow morning.—Basil.’ That’s my name in those parts.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The fact that several rough-looking men called during that time and inquired for Captain Basil made me understand that Holmes was working somewhere under one of the numerous disguises and names with which he concealed his own formidable identity.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)