basil

basil — noun

1. a green leafy plant whose soft, sweet-smelling leaves are torn or chopped into f

1.名詞B1
釋義

a green leafy plant whose soft, sweet-smelling leaves are torn or chopped into food, especially Italian and Thai dishes, to give them a warm, slightly peppery taste.

例句

Quinn tore some fresh basil over the tomato pizza just before serving.

collocation: fresh basil + tear over [dish]

The Thai chef stirred a handful of basil leaves into the chicken curry.

collocation: a handful of basil leaves

同義詞
  • sweet basil

    the most common kitchen variety; the default meaning of 'basil' in recipes

  • Thai basil

    a sharper, more aniseed-flavoured variety used in Southeast Asian cooking

文法句型

fresh basil

dried basil

a sprig of basil

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable: say 'some basil' or 'a leaf of basil', not 'a basil' or 'two basils'. The plant itself can be counted ('three basil plants'), but the herb as an ingredient cannot.

常見錯誤

❌I bought two basils at the market.
✅I bought two bunches of basil at the market.
💡'basil' is uncountable; count the container or the plant, not the herb itself.
❌She put a basil on the pizza.
✅She put a basil leaf on the pizza.
💡to count the herb, name a leaf, sprig, or pinch.