noun any of several Old World tropical aromatic annual or perennial herbs of the genus Ocimum.
noun (Roman Catholic Church) the bishop of Caesarea who defended the Roman Catholic Church against the heresies of the 4th century.
— synonyms: St._Basil, Basil_of_Caesarea, Basil_the_Great, St._Basil_the_Great
noun leaves of the common basil.
— synonyms: sweet_basil