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allium

American  
[al-ee-uhm] / ˈæl i əm /

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 British  
/ ˈælɪəm /

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of allium

1800–10; < New Latin, Latin: garlic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

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

Luke Nguyen’s Tilapia Fish Salad, from his cookbook "From China to Vietnam," is a masterclass in allium layering, using both fresh and fried red Asian shallots, as well as fresh and fried garlic.

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