baste
baste Lexical Profile
baste Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To pour, spoon, or brush melted fat, pan juices, or liquid over meat or other food during cooking to keep it moist.
"Be sure to baste the turkey every thirty minutes so the breast meat does not dry out."
To sew fabric together with long, loose, temporary stitches in preparation for final stitching.
"The tailor decided to baste the sleeves into the jacket before the customer's first fitting."
To beat soundly with a stick or thrash, or to criticize and berate severely.
"Critics continued to baste the director for the film's historical inaccuracies."
• noun
Melted fat, pan drippings, or a seasoned liquid brushed or spooned over food while it cooks to keep it moist and flavorful.
"The chef prepared a tangy honey-mustard baste for the roasted pork loin."
A long, loose stitch used to hold fabric pieces together temporarily before permanent sewing.
"Once the hemline was machine-stitched, she carefully pulled out the temporary baste."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'baste' with its homophone 'based' (having a specified foundation or location), or with 'bast' (fibrous plant tissue used for cordage).
• Rhymes for baste
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The word represents three distinct historical roots: the culinary sense dates to the 15th century, likely from Old French 'basser' (to soak or moisten); the sewing sense comes from Old French 'bastir' (to build or stitch lightly); and the sense meaning to beat or thrash probably derives from Old Norse 'beysta' (to beat or bruise).