Definition

1. Noun:
   • A culinary herb: "common basil" refers to an annual or perennial herb native to tropical Asia, characterized by spikes of small white flowers and highly aromatic leaves. It is one of the most important herbs in cooking.
   • A plant species: In botanical terms, it is a specific herbaceous plant (Ocimum basilicum) widely cultivated for its flavorful leaves.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The recipe calls for a handful of chopped common basil.
  • Common basil is essential for making authentic pesto sauce.
  • She grows common basil in her kitchen garden for fresh use.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: The term can be used attributively to describe products or dishes featuring the herb.
  • The common basil aroma filled the kitchen.
  • We enjoyed a common basil-infused olive oil.

Variants and Related Words

• Sweet basil: A common synonym for "common basil," emphasizing its sweet, aromatic quality compared to other basil varieties.
• Basil (Ocimum basilicum): The scientific and general name for the plant species.
• Thai basil: A related but distinct variety with a stronger anise flavor.
• Holy basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum): A different species of basil, also known as tulsi, used more in traditional medicine and religious ceremonies than in mainstream Western cuisine.

Synonyms

• Sweet basil
• Garden basil
• Culinary basil

Related Phrases

• Basil plant: Refers to the living plant.
  • I bought a common basil plant from the nursery.
• Fresh basil: Emphasizes the herb in its uncooked, recently harvested state.
  • Garnish the dish with fresh common basil.
• Dried basil: Refers to the dehydrated form of the herb.
  • If you don't have fresh, you can use dried common basil, but the flavor is less vibrant.

Noun

1. 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