English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

tulsi

TUUL-see

Tulsi (noun) means Holy basil, a fragrant herb native to South Asia that is grown both as a culinary seasoning and as a sacred plant in Hindu tradition. Example: “She keeps a pot of tulsi on the balcony and brews the leaves into tea every morning.”

noun
1
Holy basil, a fragrant herb native to South Asia that is grown both as a culinary seasoning and as a sacred plant in Hindu tradition.
"She keeps a pot of tulsi on the balcony and brews the leaves into tea every morning."
"Tulsi is planted in the courtyard of many Hindu homes as an offering plant."

How to use tulsi

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA type of basil (also called holy basil) used for cooking, herbal tea, and religious ritual in South Asia.

Common pairings
tulsi tea tulsi leaves tulsi plant

Word forms

tulsis plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tulsi” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She keeps a pot of _____ on the balcony and brews the leaves into tea every morning.

Etymology

Borrowed into English from Hindi, which took it from the Sanskrit word for the same plant.

Origin: Sanskrit

Frequently asked questions

What does “tulsi” mean?

The word “tulsi” means holy basil, a fragrant herb native to South Asia that is grown both as a culinary seasoning and as a sacred plant in Hindu tradition. In plain terms, a type of basil (also called holy basil) used for cooking, herbal tea, and religious ritual in South Asia.

How do you pronounce “tulsi”?

“Tulsi” is pronounced TUUL-see (/ˈtʊlsi/ in IPA).

How do you use “tulsi” in a sentence?

Here is “tulsi” used in a sentence: “She keeps a pot of tulsi on the balcony and brews the leaves into tea every morning.”

What part of speech is “tulsi”?

“Tulsi” is a noun.

Where does the word “tulsi” come from?

The word “tulsi” comes from Sanskrit. Borrowed into English from Hindi, which took it from the Sanskrit word for the same plant.

Featured in

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial