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

Basil
Basil

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1. \Bas"il\, 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.
   

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

3. \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. badilicus royal, Gr. ?,
   fr. ? 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 ({O.
   minimum}), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name
   is also given to several kinds of mountain mint
   ({Pycnanthemum}).
   {Basil thyme}, a name given to the fragrant herbs {Calamintha
      Acinos} and {C. Nepeta}.
   {Wild basil}, a plant ({Calamintha clinopodium}) of the Mint
      family.
   

4. \Bas"il\, 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.