baste Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a loose temporary sewing stitch to hold layers of fabric together
    basting stitch; basting; tacking.
  2. verb cover with liquid before cooking
    • baste a roast
  3. verb strike violently and repeatedly
    batter; clobber.
    • She clobbered the man who tried to attack her
  4. verb sew together loosely, with large stitches
    tack.
    • baste a hem

WordNet

Baste transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Icel. beysta to strike, powder; Sw. basa to beat with a rod: perh. akin to E. beat.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Basted; present participle & verbal noun Basting
Definitions
  1. To beat with a stick; to cudgel.
    One man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his back through the waters. Pepys.
  2. (Cookery) To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on meat in roasting.
  3. To mark with tar, as sheep. Prov. Eng.
Baste transitive verb
Etymology
OE. basten, OF. bastir, F. btir, prob. fr. OHG. bestan to sew, MHG. besten to bind, fr. OHG. bast bast. See Bast.
Definitions
  1. To sew loosely, or with long stitches; -- usually, that the work may be held in position until sewed more firmly. Shak.

Webster 1913