baste

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈbāst 

basted; basting

transitive verb

: to sew with long loose stitches in order to hold something in place temporarily

baste

2 of 3

verb (2)

basted; basting

transitive verb

: to moisten (foods, especially meat) at intervals with a liquid (such as melted butter, fat, or pan drippings) especially during the cooking process to prevent drying and add flavor

baste a roast every half hour

baste

3 of 3

verb (3)

basted; basting

transitive verb

1

: to beat severely or soundly : thrash

2

: to scold vigorously : berate

Synonyms

Verb (3)

• bawl out
• berate
• call down
• castigate
• chastise
• chew out
• dress down
• flay
• hammer
• jaw
• keelhaul
• lambaste
• lambast
• lecture
• rag
• rail (at or against)
• rant (at)
• rate
• ream (out)
• rebuke
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• score
• tongue-lash
• upbraid

Examples of baste in a Sentence

Verb (3)

a tyrannical father who used the dinner hour to baste his children for their many perceived shortcomings

basted the thief with a stick while he cried out for help

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Not so readily, however: The researchers cut a black spatula into small pieces and basted them in 320-degree cooking oil for 15 minutes. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024

Basting every 30 minutes is better for this method, while slow-roasting methods may benefit from basting every 45 minutes to an hour. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024

With the help of a Black cook who was known for his backyard barbecue, those ribs were cooked over charcoal and basted — mopped — with a signature sauce giving the meat a texture that’s got some snap. —Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

While not everyone believes that basting is necessary, the ritual of basting turkey lives on. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English basten, borrowed from Middle French bastir, going back to Old Low Franconian *bastjan, going back to Germanic, "to bind or weave with bast strips" (whence Middle Dutch besten "to tie up, fasten with loose stitches," Old High German, "to bind with bast, mend"), verbal derivative of *basta- bast

Verb (2)

Middle English baisten, of obscure origin

Verb (3)

probably from Old Norse beysta; akin to Old English bēatan to beat

First Known Use

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

baste

1 of 2 verb

ˈbāst 

basted; basting

: to sew with long loose stitches so as to hold the work temporarily in place

baster noun

baste

2 of 2 verb

basted; basting

: to moisten with liquid (as melted fat or juices) while roasting

baster noun