Quranic root
بسم
b · s · m
Opening or displaying the front of the mouth as an expression of gladness, below the degree of full laughter.
The facial action yields the Form V sense of a slight smile or laugh. Classical figurative usage extends the image of a faint opening or display to lightning showing through clouds and to a palm spadix splitting at its ends; a separate Form I expression is also attested for tasting.
- Maqāyīs · row 764
- Lane · entry 36409
- Lane · entry 36410
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 1
- Quran senses
- 1
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
تَبَسَّمَ
tabassama
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form V
- Form
- V
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To smile—to show the front of the mouth in a slight laugh, below full laughter.
Describes the beginning or lesser degree of ضحك and may involve opening the lips to display the teeth or laughing without sound. The Quranic occurrence is in the construction تَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكًا, smiling in response to what was said.
- Lane · entry 36410
- Mufradāt · row 125
Selected Quran examples
Quran 27:19word 1
“So he smiled”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 27:19فَتَبَسَّمَSo he smiled
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 6 Classical meanings
بَسَمَ
In a figurative expression, to taste a thing.
Attested in the construction مَا بَسَمْتُ فِي الشَّيْءِ.
- Lane · entry 36409
تَبَسَّمَ
Of clouds, to display a faint flash of lightning.
A figurative construction describing a weak or intermittent showing of lightning through the clouds.
- Lane · entry 36410
تَبَسَّمَ
Of a palm-tree spadix, to burst open at its extremities.
A figurative usage applied to the extremities of the palm spadix or spathe splitting apart.
- Lane · entry 36410
بَسَّامٌ
One who smiles much; a frequent smiler.
An epithet or intensive descriptive form derived from بَسَمَ.
- Lane · entry 36412
بَاسِمٌ
Smiling; one who smiles.
Active participle of بَسَمَ.
- Lane · entry 36413
مَبْسِمٌ
The front teeth; possibly, by extension, the mouth.
Named as the place of smiling; the plural is مَبَاسِمُ, and the mouth sense is reported tentatively.
- Lane · entry 36414
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic form is attested once, at 27:19; the cloud, palm-spadix, tasting, and nominal uses are broader Classical Arabic evidence rather than additional Quranic senses.