allium
Americannoun
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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.
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a substance occurring in garlic bulbs that has antibiotic properties.
noun
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.
For his ramp-themed dinner, Jaranilla put together a five-course tasting menu to showcase the versatility of the allium, in the same family as garlic, leeks and onions.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Onions — and their extended allium family, which includes garlic, leeks, shallots, chives and scallions—are nature’s greatest flavor amplifiers.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2025
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 • Mar. 19, 2025
What does your taste tell you about what would go well with it, in terms of allium and fresh herbs?
From Seattle Times • May 23, 2023
Both had barley in their nose-bags, but pawed and wriggled them off in order to get at this plant, a species of allium.
From Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume II (of 2) Including a Summer in the Upper Karun Region and a Visit to the Nestorian Rayahs by Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
