The DICT Development Group

  Basil \Bas"il\, n. [F. basilic, fr. L. basilicus royal, Gr.
     basiliko`s fr. basiley`s king.] (Bot.)
     The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family,
     but chiefly to the common or sweet basil ({Ocymum
     basilicum), and the bush basil, or lesser basil ({Ocymum
     minimum), the leaves of which are used in cookery. The name
     is also given to several kinds of mountain mint
     ({Pycnanthemum).
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs Calamintha
        Acinos and Calamintha Nepeta.
  
     Wild+basil,+a+plant+({Calamintha+clinopodium">Wild basil, a plant ({Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint
        family.
        [1913 Webster]

  Calamint \Cal"a*mint\ (-m[i^]nt), n. [OE. calamint, calemente
     (cf. F. calament) fr. L. calamintha, Gr. kalami`nqh,
     kala`minqos. See 1st Mint.] (Bot.)
     A genus of perennial plants ({Calamintha) of the Mint
     family, esp. the Calamintha Nepeta and Calamintha Acinos,
     which are called also basil thyme.
     [1913 Webster]

  Calamintha nepeta
      n 1: low-growing strongly aromatic perennial herb of southern
           Europe to Great Britain; naturalized in United States [syn:
           lesser calamint, field balm, Calamintha nepeta,
           Calamintha nepeta glantulosa, Satureja nepeta,
           Satureja calamintha glandulosa]