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Synonyms

basting

1 American  
[bey-sting] / ˈbeɪ stɪŋ /

noun

  1. sewing with long, loose stitches to hold material in place until the final sewing.

  2. bastings, the stitches taken or the threads used.

basting 2 American  
[bey-sting] / ˈbeɪ stɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of moistening food while cooking, especially with stock or pan juices.

  2. the liquid used in basting.

basting British  
/ ˈbeɪstɪŋ /

noun

  1. loose temporary stitches; tacking

  2. sewing with such stitches

"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

Etymology

Origin of basting1

First recorded in 1515–25; baste 1 + -ing 1

Origin of basting2

First recorded in 1520–30; baste 2 + -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing basting

Vocabulary from history writings about the Triangle Factory Fire

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

The next few hours are spent doing tasks no one else wants to do—snipping stitches, basting, sweeping up, collecting pins and putting them in pincushions.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.