allium

[ al-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. any bulbous plant belonging to the genus Allium, of the amaryllis family, having an onion odor and flowers in a round cluster, including the onion, leek, shallot, garlic, and chive.
2. a substance occurring in garlic bulbs that has antibiotic properties.

allium

/ ˈælɪəm /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Allium, such as the onion, garlic, shallot, leek, or chive: family Alliaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of allium¹

1800–10; < New Latin, Latin: garlic

Word History and Origins

Origin of allium¹

C19: from Latin: garlic

Example Sentences

The dried allium in some form — garlic powder, granulated garlic and garlic salt — has been part of my palate since I was a child enjoying my mother’s recipes.

From Washington Post

I found myself making turkey chili, turkey sloppy joes, turkey tacos and turkey kofta kebabs regularly — all dishes that demand assertive seasoning, be it spices, sauces, alliums or herbs.

From Washington Post

In most cultures, onions and other alliums are generally used as a component of a dish, not the main attraction.

From Vox

The combination of the rare, limited availability of these little alliums and the brief window in which they’re available makes them highly coveted among the type of people who obsess about their produce.

From Vox

Scallions are also great uncooked and have a fresh allium flavor.

From Washington Post

In Tennessee and West Virginia, festivals are held to celebrate allium tricoccum, which are also known as wild leeks.

From The Daily Beast

Moly seems to have been Allium moly, one of the onion or garlic family.

From Project Gutenberg

From all these facts I am led to believe that Allium ascalonicum is not a species.

From Project Gutenberg

And here we find in several places the bulblets of a wild garlic, Allium Canadense, which grows on the river bottom.

From Project Gutenberg

Regel, in 1875, in his monograph of the genus Allium, declares he has only seen the shallot as a cultivated species.

From Project Gutenberg

The Allium neapolitanum is the finest white-flowered variety, and is exceedingly valuable for bouquets and vase decoration.

From Project Gutenberg