Definition

1. 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

1. leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried
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. any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum