1. (

• basil

) any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum ;

2. (

• Basil ,
• St._Basil ,
• Basil_of_Caesarea ,
• Basil_the_Great ,
• St._Basil_the_Great

) (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) ;

3. (

• basil ,
• sweet_basil

) leaves of the common basil; used fresh or dried ;