baste

¹ American  

[bayst] / beɪst /

verb (used with object)

basted, basting

1. 

   to sew with long, loose stitches, as in temporarily tacking together pieces of a garment while it is being made.

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baste ² American  

[bayst] / beɪst /

verb (used with object)

basted, basting

1. to moisten (meat or other food) while cooking, with drippings, butter, etc.

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noun

1. liquid used to moisten and flavor food during cooking.

   a baste of sherry and pan juices.

baste ³ American  

[bayst] / beɪst /

verb (used with object)

basted, basting

1. to beat with a stick; thrash; cudgel.

2. to denounce or scold vigorously.

   an editorial basting the candidate for irresponsible statements.

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baste ¹ British  

/ beɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to sew with loose temporary stitches

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baste ² British  

/ beɪst /

verb

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

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baste ³ British  

/ beɪst /

verb

1. (tr) to beat thoroughly; thrash

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Etymology

Origin of baste¹

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

Origin of baste²

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)”

Origin of baste³

First recorded in 1525–35; variant of baist, perhaps from Old Norse beysta “to beat, thrash”; perhaps from baste ² ( def. ) (the ladle for cooking used as a weapon)

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Explanation

When cooks baste food, they brush or drizzle a savory liquid on it as it's cooking. If you baste your Thanksgiving turkey while it bakes, it will stay moist and tender. A chef might baste grilled vegetables with their marinade, or baste roasting meat with its own oily drippings. The technique keeps food from drying out as it cooks. Another meaning of baste is "to sew loosely." You might quickly baste the hem of a curtain before stitching it securely in place. The origin of the culinary baste is a bit of a mystery, but the sewing term comes from the Old French bastir, "construct" or "sew up."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

baste basted basting

Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice into the pan and baste the fillets once or twice more.

From Washington Times ● May 19, 2023

Be sure to baste the fish with this liquid during cooking and just before serving.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 16, 2023

I have a section on using different flavored butters to baste and add flavor, so add garlic butter or maple butter to something like a corn muffin or a cornbread.

From Salon ● Dec. 20, 2022

To add to the flavour, Taylor’s preferred liquid to baste the turkey with is coffee, butter and maple syrup.

From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2022

Place in hot oven; when browned baste with 2 cups cold water; turn breast side down and roast 2 hours, basting three or four times with cold water.

From New Royal Cook Book by Anonymous

The signature dish, made with sharp, slow-melting Kolot cheese, comes in a crust that’s been liberally basted with butter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

The programme title is a play on Lord Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera, basted on the novel by Gaston Leroux.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2025

Not so readily, however: The researchers cut a black spatula into small pieces and basted them in 320-degree cooking oil for 15 minutes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 24, 2024

But perhaps most memorable, especially for anyone who has ever babied, basted and otherwise fussed over a 14-pound bird, is the season four episode “Turkey in a Can.”

From Salon ● Nov. 11, 2023

A short time after she pursued—“I seed you go out with the master, but I didn’t know you were gone to church to be wed;” and she basted away.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

In August 2023, the state blamed another botched satellite launch on an error in the emergency basting system, but said it was "not a big issue".

From BBC ● May 21, 2025

How often should I be basting my bird?

From Salon ● Nov. 25, 2024

But before you start basting the turkey and preparing the stuffing, it’s good to get your kitchen in as good a shape as possible.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 14, 2023

Then we take a two-step approach to ensure it stays moist, basting it in butter as it cooks and then serving it with a luscious but bright sauce.

From Washington Times ● May 19, 2023

I guess she did, because she finally pushed the basting pan aside and went to the sink to wash her hands.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

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