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

---

Etymology

Origin of allium

1800–10; < New Latin, Latin: garlic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

allium

Another man had a shallot tattooed on his forearm, suggesting either a career behind the line or an allium devotion I could not hope to match.

From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026

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

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

The result is a dish with pure sweet-potato flavor accented by fresh notes of allium and nutty sesame seeds.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 28, 2023

Of all the species of allium, the onion has the volatile principle in the greatest degree; and hence it is impossible to separate the scales of the root without the eyes being affected.

From The Book of Household Management by Mrs. (Isabella Mary) Beeton