baste
3 synonyms for baste, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To drip melted fat, butter, or juices over food (usually meat) while it cooks, to keep it moist.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use baste
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
baste the turkey
baste with butter
baste a hem
Etymology
From Old French bastir, "to build or sew up a garment" — the cooking sense (dripping fat over meat) developed separately in English.
Full origin of baste →Frequently asked questions
What does “baste” mean?
The word “baste” means to drip melted fat, butter, or juices over food (usually meat) while it cooks, to keep it moist. In plain terms, in cooking: spooning fat or juices over food as it roasts. In sewing: tacking fabric together loosely before the real stitching.
How do you pronounce “baste”?
“Baste” is pronounced bayst (/beɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “baste” in a sentence?
Here is “baste” used in a sentence: “Baste the turkey every twenty minutes so the skin stays juicy.”
What part of speech is “baste”?
“Baste” is a verb.
Where does the word “baste” come from?
The word “baste” comes from Old French. From Old French bastir, "to build or sew up a garment" — the cooking sense (dripping fat over meat) developed separately in English.
How many meanings does “baste” have?
“Baste” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to drip melted fat, butter, or juices over food (usually meat) while it cooks, to keep it moist.
