1. Any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum
   "Fresh basil leaves are essential in making authentic pesto sauce"
    
2. Leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried
   "We garnished the margherita pizza with fresh basil leaves"; "The pesto recipe called for a cup of sweet basil";
   - sweet basil

1. (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)
   - St. Basil, Basil of Caesarea, Basil the Great, St. Basil the Great

Derived forms: basils

Type of: Church Father, Doctor, Doctor of the Church, Father, Father of the Church, herb, herbaceous plant, saint, theologian, theologiser [Brit], theologist, theologizer

Part of: common basil, genus Ocimum, Ocimum, Ocimum basilicum, sweet basil

Encyclopedia: Basil, Sir Zaharoff