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basil

Syllabification: (bas·il)
Pronunciation: /ˈbāzəl, ˈbazəl/
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Definition of basil

noun

  • an aromatic annual herb of the mint family, native to tropical Asia.
    • Genus Ocimum, family Labiatae: several species, in particular the common sweet basil (O. basilicum) and the low-growing, compact bush basil O. minimum
  • the leaves of the basil plant used as a culinary herb, especially in Mediterranean dishes.

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French basile, via medieval Latin from Greek basilikon, neuter of basilikos 'royal' (see basilica)

basil in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of basil in the British & World English dictionary

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