Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

basil

/ˈbæz.əl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.65 in modern English

Syllables
basil
IPA
/ˈbæz.əl/
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A plant (Ocimum basilicum).

Uncountable

noun

The leaves of this plant used as a herb.

Uncountable

noun

Any other species in the genus Ocimum.

Uncountable

noun

The angle to which a joiner's tool is ground away.

verb

To grind the edge of a tool to an acute angle.

Transitive verb

noun

The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.

noun

A type of cannon.

Obsolete

noun

A fetter fastened round the ankle of a prisoner.

Archaic

Example Sentences

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English basile, from Middle French basile, from Old French basile, from Medieval Latin basilicum, from Ancient Greek βασιλικόν (basilikón, “royal”), from βασιλεύς (basileús, “king”). Doublet of basilic, basilicon, and basilicum; further related to basileus, basilean, and basileiolatry.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: basile, basilicum, βασιλικόν, basane, basanium, بِطانَة

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈbæz.əl/
  • British English: /ˈbæz.əl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Asian basil basil balm basil thyme common basil field basil hoary basil holy basil Lao basil

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

sweet basil St. Joseph's wort common basil American dittany great basil bevel sharpen basan bazil

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce basil?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbæz.əl/.
What does basil mean?
A plant (Ocimum basilicum).
Where does basil come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce basil

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “basil”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbæz.əl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “basil”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “basil” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.