leek
Americannoun
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a cultivated plant, Allium ampeloprasum, of the amaryllis family, related to the onion, with a long cylindrical bundle of straplike leaves that are used in cooking, especially the paler portion near the base.
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any of various onion-related plants, especially the wild leek, Allium ampeloprasum, from which the culinary leek was cultivated.
noun
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Also called: scallion. an alliaceous plant, Allium porrum, with a slender white bulb, cylindrical stem, and broad flat overlapping leaves: used in cooking
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any of several related species, such as A. ampeloprasum (wild leek)
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a leek, or a representation of one, as a national emblem of Wales
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of leek
First recorded before 1000; from Middle English lek, leck, leike; Old English lēac, lēc, lēc; cognate with German Lauch, Dutch look, Old Norse laukr
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.
See Examples For:
On the menu, honey-glazed lime chicken, roast sea bass, caramelised leek penne and an outrageously moreish passion fruit meringue.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
Just add hot water to unleash flavors of mushroom, leek, seafood and more.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025
On the same menu, you can have a humble leek vinaigrette next to more elevated truffle-esque offerings.
From Salon ● May 22, 2024
Leek fritters with a gummy texture registered all dough, no leek, with the exteriors over-salted such that eating more became unappealing.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 2023
“It’s leek and potato stew with a tarragon garnish and melted Gruyere cheese,” he admitted.
From "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman
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
The first step is to sauté leeks and garlic in olive oil, butter and, crucially, a bit of white miso.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Murdoch uses a harvesting rig for leeks, but this year, because rain has forced dirt between the leaves, they are being gathered by hand into which affects his planning and costs.
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026
And after a local screwpine sorbet palate cleanser, Maldivian chefs slice up Wagyu tenderloin alongside baby leeks, eggplant, fennel pollen and coconut jus.
From Salon ● Dec. 27, 2025
I got some potatoes, leeks, cream, and a loaf of fresh French bread that been teasin’ my nose all day, charge them to Lizabeth, and head for home.
From "Girls Like Us" by Gail Giles
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.
