BASK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bask mean? 

• BASK (verb)
  The verb BASK has 2 senses:

1. derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

2. be exposed

  Familiarity information: BASK used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BASK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they bask    ... he / she / it basks   
Past simple: basked   
Past participle: basked   
-ing form: basking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

bask; enjoy; relish; savor; savour

Context example:

She relished her fame and basked in her glory

"Bask" entails doing...:

like (find enjoyable or agreeable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "bask"):

feast one's eyes (look at with great enjoyment)

devour (enjoy avidly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s PP
Somebody ----s VERB-ing

Sense 2

Meaning:

Be exposed

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The seals were basking in the sun

Hypernyms (to "bask" is one way to...):

lie (be lying, be prostrate; be in a horizontal position)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

Three large stones formed a rough cot by the roadside, and beside it, basking in the sun, sat the hermit, with clay-colored face, dull eyes, and long withered hands.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He leaned back in his chair with drooping eyelids and a tolerant smile, basking in this sudden gleam of sunshine.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Two wax candles stood lighted on the table, and two on the mantelpiece; basking in the light and heat of a superb fire, lay Pilot—Adele knelt near him.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

We were sitting out upon the lawn on garden chairs, the three of us, basking in the sun and admiring the view across the Broads, when a maid came out to say that there was a man at the door who wanted to see Mr. Trevor.

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

The 'men of my class', were heroes in the eyes of the girls, who never wearied of the exploits of 'our fellows', and were frequently allowed to bask in the smiles of these great creatures, when Laurie brought them home with him.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The fact is, after my conflict with and victory over Mrs. Reed, I was not disposed to care much for the nursemaid's transitory anger; and I was disposed to bask in her youthful lightness of heart.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

She watched him for a moment with artistic pleasure, thinking how like an Italian he looked, as he lay basking in the sun with uncovered head and eyes full of southern dreaminess, for he seemed to have forgotten her and fallen into a reverie.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)