Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Synonyms
Nearby Entries
baste - 10 dictionary results

baste

1  [beyst]
Use baste in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), bast⋅ed, bast⋅ing.
to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME basten < AF, MF bastir to build, baste < Gmc; cf. OHG bestan to mend, patch for *bastian to bring together with bast thread or string (bast bast + -i- v. suffix + -an inf. suffix)

baste

2  [beyst] verb, bast⋅ed, bast⋅ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1. to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.
–noun
2. liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking: a baste of sherry and pan juices.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME basten, of obscure orig.

baste

3  [beyst]
–verb (used with object), bast⋅ed, bast⋅ing.
1. to beat with a stick; thrash; cudgel.
2. to denounce or scold vigorously: an editorial basting the candidate for irresponsible statements.
Origin:
1525–35; var. of baist, perh. < ON beysta to beat, thrash
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To baste
baste 1   (bāst)   
tr.v.   bast·ed, bast·ing, bastes
To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily.

[Middle English basten, from Old French bastir, of Germanic origin.]
bast'er n.
baste 2   (bāst)   
tr.v.   bast·ed, bast·ing, bastes
To moisten (meat, for example) periodically with a liquid, such as melted butter or a sauce, especially while cooking.

[Middle English basten.]
bast'er n.
baste 3   (bāst)   
tr.v.   bast·ed, bast·ing, bastes
  1. To beat vigorously; thrash. See Synonyms at beat.
  2. To lambaste.

[Probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse beysta; see bhau- 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.
Cite This Source

Baste

Baste\ (b[=a]st), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basting.] [Cf. Icel. beysta to strike, powder; Sw. basa to beat with a rod: perh. akin to E. beat.]

1. To beat with a stick; to cudgel.

One man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his back through the waters. --Pepys.

2. (Cookery) To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meat in roasting.

3. To mark with tar, as sheep. [Prov. Eng.]

Baste

Baste\, v. t. [OE. basten, OF. bastir, F. b?tir, prob. fr. OHG. bestan to sew, MHG. besten to bind, fr. OHG. bast bast. See Bast.] To sew loosely, or with long stitches; -- usually, that the work may be held in position until sewed more firmly. --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

baste  (1)
"sew together loosely," c.1440, from O.Fr. bastir, from Frank. *bastjan "to sew or bind with bast," from P.Gmc. *bastjan "join together with bast" (see bast).

baste  (2)
"to soak in gravy, moisten," 1509, possibly from O.Fr. basser "to moisten," from bassin "basin."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see baste on Thesaurus | Reference