Basil
/'bæzi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A culinary herb: "basil" refers to the aromatic leaves of plants in the genus Ocimum, particularly Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil), used as a seasoning in cooking.
- A historical or religious figure: "Basil" can refer to Saint Basil the Great, a 4th-century bishop and theologian.
- A plant genus: "basil" can denote any of various aromatic herbs belonging to the genus Ocimum.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Culinary Herb):
- Fresh basil is essential for a good pesto sauce.
- She garnished the tomato salad with chopped basil.
- Noun (Historical Figure):
- Basil of Caesarea is a Doctor of the Church.
- Noun (Plant Type):
- Thai basil has a distinct licorice flavor compared to sweet basil.
Advanced Usage
- "to be the basil of": This is not a standard idiom. The name "Basil" is used in historical and religious contexts.
- The writings of Basil were influential in early Christian doctrine.
Variants and Related Words
- Basilica (n): A type of large, important church. (This word is related to the historical figure through architectural and ecclesiastical history, but is a distinct term).
- Basilic (adj): A term in anatomy (e.g., basilic vein) or meaning royal; derived from the Greek root for "king," which is also the origin of the name Basil.
Synonyms
- Sweet basil: The common culinary variety ().
- Herb: A general term for plants used for flavoring, food, or medicine.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- There are no common phrasal verbs specifically for "basil."
Related Idioms
- There are no common idioms specifically for "basil."
Noun
- leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried
- (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)
- any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum