chive

American  

[chahyv] / tʃaɪv /

noun

chives plural

1. a small bulbous plant, Allium schoenoprasum, related to the leek and onion, having long, slender leaves that are used as a seasoning.

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chive British  

/ tʃaɪv /

noun

1. Also called: chives.  a small Eurasian purple-flowered alliaceous plant, Allium schoenoprasum, whose long slender hollow leaves are used in cooking to flavour soups, stews, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chive

1350–1400; Middle English cive < Anglo-French chive, Old French cive ≪ Latin caepa onion

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chive chives

I’ve made these a dozen different ways: cheddar and chive, goat cheese and red pepper, pizza-inspired, spinach and feta.

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

This chive pesto potato salad is highly adaptable.

From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2023

My mom went back to transforming pork and chive filling and dough circles into intricately pleated dumplings and asked what I wanted to eat.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2023

Health officials believe daffodil poisoning led to 10 hospitalisation in Bristol in 2012 because of their similarity to a chive used in Chinese cooking.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2023

Add that to all the chive, dillweed, and lemon balm growing around the porch and the smell could knock you over.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Maybe it’s flecked with chives and garlic salt.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026

Luckily, farmers markets this time of year are full of spring produce that are right at home in a primavera: asparagus, snap peas, chives, leeks and fresh herbs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

One flank is covered with tranquil forests and fields where typical local crops like spinach, sorrel and chives grow.

From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025

Broiled prawns in a gochujang butter, garlic, and chives were served sizzling hot.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025

Soon the dinner carpet was full with trays of kebab, grilled onions and tomatoes, platters of fresh chives, green and purple basil, cilantro, radishes, and dill.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri