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bast - 5 dictionary results

bast

  [bast]
Use bast in a Sentence
–noun
1. Botany. phloem.
2. Also called bast fiber. any of several strong, woody fibers, as flax, hemp, ramie, or jute, obtained from phloem tissue and used in the manufacture of woven goods and cordage.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE bæst; c. D, G, ON bast; perh. ult. c. L fascis bundle. See bass 3
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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bast   (bāst)   
n.  
  1. See phloem.
  2. Bast fiber.

[Middle English, from Old English bæst.]
phlo·em   (flō'ěm')   
n.  The food-conducting tissue of vascular plants, consisting of sieve tubes, fibers, parenchyma, and sclereids. Also called bast.

[German, from Greek phloios, bark; see bhleu- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Bast

Bast\, n. [AS. b[ae]st; akin to Icel., Sw., Dan., D., & G. bast, of unknown origin. Cf. Bass the tree.]

1. The inner fibrous bark of various plants; esp. of the lime tree; hence, matting, cordage, etc., made therefrom.

2. A thick mat or hassock. See 2d Bass, 2.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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bast 
"inner bark of the linden tree," O.E. bæst, a general Gmc. word, of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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