any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
source: WordNet 3.0
(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)
source: WordNet 3.0
leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried
source: WordNet 3.0
The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a plane, is ground.
source: Webster 1913
The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family, but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (Ocymum basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil (O. minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain mint (Pycnanthemum).
