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

Onions — and their extended allium family, which includes garlic, leeks, shallots, chives and scallions—are nature’s greatest flavor amplifiers.

From Salon

But the real magic happens when you embrace the full allium spectrum.

From Salon

A dish of such pure, indulgent comfort that it barely registers as sophisticated, yet a classic example of allium layering at its most intuitive.

From Salon

About knowing when an allium should sing and when it should hum in the background, when it should melt into silk and when it should shatter between your teeth.

From Salon

This is liquid gold that can be used in sauces, dressings and stir-fries to add an extra layer of allium depth.

From Salon