Basil

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

basil
    n 1: any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or
         perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
    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) [syn:
       {Basil}, {St. Basil}, {Basil of Caesarea}, {Basil the Great},
       {St. Basil the Great}]
    3: leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried [syn:
       {basil}, {sweet basil}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Cf. F. basile and E.
   {Bezel}.]
   The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a
   plane, is ground. --Grier.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Basil \Bas"il\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Basiled} (?); p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Basiling}.]
   To grind or form the edge of to an angle. --Moxon.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr.
   basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king.] (Bot.)
   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 ({Ocymum
   minimum}), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name
   is also given to several kinds of mountain mint
   ({Pycnanthemum}).
   [1913 Webster]

   {Basil thyme}, a name given to the fragrant herbs {Calamintha
      Acinos} and {Calamintha Nepeta}.

   {Wild basil}, a plant ({Calamintha clinopodium}) of the Mint
      family.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Basil \Bas"il\ (b[a^]z"[i^]l), n. [Corrupt. from E. basan, F.
   basane, LL. basanium, bazana, fr. Ar. bith[=a]na, prop.,
   lining.]
   The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
   [1913 Webster] Basilar