baste

¹ American  

[beyst] / 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  

[beyst] / 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  

[beyst] / 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)

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

Cook and baste the fish until the thickest parts reach 115°F to 120°F, or are nearly opaque when cut into, 2 to 3 minutes.

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

A farmer has a right to get work out uv his horse; but if he overtaxes the poor baste, the law steps in again and says 'No more uv that.'

From Samba A Story of the Rubber Slaves of the Congo by Herbert Strang

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

It was the second year in a row that Langford hit a game-winning homer in the championship game, having basted a two-run shot in the top of the eighth inning last spring against the Highlanders.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 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

As a child, Yamamoto said he sometimes snacked on soy-sauce basted grasshoppers.

From Reuters ● Jul. 26, 2023

There were arches of spun sugar, towers of pastry, basted birds posed for flight.

From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin

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

My method was always bringing the steak to room temperature, salting it heavily, then cooking it in a cast-iron pan that was scorchingly hot before basting with butter, garlic thyme and rosemary.

From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2024

Roast for two hours, basting one to two times with more butter, before flipping breast side up to finish.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 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

A quick basting stitch lets her know where to set her seams, her cuffs, her hem.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes

Related Words

• grease