baste

1
[ beyst ]
See synonyms for baste on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),bast·ed, bast·ing.
  1. to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.

Origin of baste

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English basten, from Anglo-French, Middle French bastir “to build, baste,” from Germanic; compare Old High German bestan “to mend, patch,” Middle High German besten “to lace, tie”; see also bast

Other definitions for baste (2 of 3)

baste2
[ beyst ]

verb (used with object),bast·ed, bast·ing.
  1. to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.

noun
  1. liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking: a baste of sherry and pan juices.

Origin of baste

2
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English basten, baist, of obscure origin; perhaps from Old French, Middle French basser “to soak (bread), moisten (meat)”

Other definitions for baste (3 of 3)

baste3
[ 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 of baste

3
First recorded in 1525–35; variant of baist, perhaps from Old Norse beysta “to beat, thrash”; perhaps from baste2 (the ladle for cooking used as a weapon)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use baste in a sentence

  • Thin how can we ivver induce th' bastes to sit fer their photygrafs?

    Frank Merriwell's Bravery | Burt L. Standish
  • Fegs, no; Orphus that lived in th' old time, an' drawed the bastes after un wi' his music, same as curate was tellin' the maids.

  • Shure, yer honor, the sight of such bastes is enough to turn a Christian man's blood.

    With Clive in India | G. A. Henty
  • Could ye go wid the lad down the road, and see if anything has happened to himself or the bastes, the craters?'

    Adrift in the Ice-Fields | Charles W. Hall
  • "Them's the iligant bastes, Darby," said one of the bystanders, as the horses moved past.

    St. Patrick's Eve | Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for baste (1 of 3)

baste1

/ (beɪst) /


verb
  1. (tr) to sew with loose temporary stitches

Origin of baste

1
C14: from Old French bastir to build, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German besten to sew with bast

British Dictionary definitions for baste (2 of 3)

baste2

/ (beɪst) /


verb
  1. to moisten (meat) during cooking with hot fat and the juices produced

Origin of baste

2
C15: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for baste (3 of 3)

baste3

/ (beɪst) /


verb
  1. (tr) to beat thoroughly; thrash

Origin of baste

3
C16: probably from Old Norse beysta

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012