Quranic root
بسس
b · s · s
The root has two principal semantic branches: driving or propelling, and breaking something apart, with a related use for mixing or preparing broken and moistened ingredients.
The sources distinguish forceful movement and urging from the breaking, crumbling, and mixing of material. The latter develops into the preparation called بَسِيسَةٌ, while the movement branch includes urging animals and an alternative interpretation of the Quranic mountain passage.
- Maqāyīs · row 758
- Lane · entry 36333
- Lane · entry 36334
- 2
- Quran-attested forms
- 4
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَسَّ
bassa
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- 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 break up, crumble, pulverize, or reduce to pieces.
In the Quranic passive construction بُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ, the mountains are described as being violently broken down, levelled, mixed with dust, or reduced to scattered powder.
- Lane · entry 36333
- Mufradāt · row 120
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:5word 1
“And will be crumbled”
To drive or cause to move swiftly.
An alternative interpretation of the passive mountain construction in 56:5 understands the mountains as being driven or made to move rapidly rather than primarily being pulverized.
- Mufradāt · row 120
بَسٌّ
bassun
- Part of speech
- Verbal noun
- 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.
Breaking, crumbling, or pulverization, especially a vehement reduction to pieces or powder.
In بُسَّتِ الْجِبَالُ بَسًّا (56:5), it is the cognate verbal noun describing the mountains’ violent crumbling and reduction.
- Lane · entry 36333
- Mufradāt · row 120
Selected Quran examples
Quran 56:5word 3
“(with awful) crumbling”
Driving or rapid movement.
This is an alternative Quranic interpretation of بَسًّا in 56:5, treating the expression as describing the mountains being driven swiftly.
- Mufradāt · row 120
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 7 Classical meanings
بَسٌّ / بَسَّهُ
Breaking or crumbling something into pieces, including bruising or braying it.
The corresponding verb is attested especially of wheat and similar grain or meal, where the material is broken, crushed, or pounded.
- Lane · entry 36333
بَسٌّ / بَسَّهُ
Mixing or moistening ingredients by stirring them together.
Attested especially of parched grain or meal, flour, or ground aqit mixed or moistened with clarified butter, olive oil, or sometimes a little water.
- Lane · entry 36333
- Lane · entry 36334
بَسِيسَةٌ
A preparation made from parched grain or meal, flour, or ground aqit stirred or moistened with butter or oil; related preparations include pounded dried bread mixed with water and barley mixed with date-stones for camels.
It is described as food eaten without cooking and as travelling provision. The term can also refer more generally to something mixed with another thing.
- Lane · entry 36334
بَسَّ
To drive, urge, or propel livestock onward.
The attested construction concerns urging camels or other livestock during movement; the action is described as driving or chivvying them forward.
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- Maqāyīs · row 758
أَبَسَّ
To call a she-camel to milking by using soothing, encouraging speech.
The construction أَبَسَّ بها is specifically associated with summoning a camel for milking. A بَسُوس she-camel is described as one that yields milk only after such prompting.
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- Maqāyīs · row 758
انْبَسَّ
To move or glide swiftly.
The cited use describes snakes moving rapidly or gliding along.
- Mufradāt · row 120
بَسُوس
A she-camel that yields milk only when prompted.
The term describes dependence on the milking call or gentle urging expressed by الإِبْسَاس.
- Mufradāt · row 120
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The Quranic expression in 56:5 has two materially distinct interpretations in the lexical evidence: violent crumbling of the mountains and their being driven swiftly. Both are retained rather than collapsed into one gloss.
The QAC verb occurrence is passive feminine singular, while the public headword is normalized to the standard Form I perfect citation form بَسَّ.