leek

[ leek ]

/ lik /

noun

a plant, Allium ampeloprasum, of the amaryllis family, allied to the onion, having a cylindrical bulb and leaves used in cookery.

any of various allied species.

Words nearby leek

leech, leech line, leech rope, leeds, leeds castle, leek, leek-green, leer, leery, lees, lees summit

Origin of leek

before 1000; Middle English; Old English lēac; cognate with German Lauch, Old Norse laukr

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH leek

leak leek

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for leek

Simmer in two ounces of butter one onion, one-half stalk of celery, and one leek, all chopped very fine.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Some heroes in this hard plight would have thrown up the leek, but Mr Bhosh was stuffed with sterner materials.
A Bayard From Bengal|Hurry Bungsho Jabberjee
Add one carrot, a leek, onion, a little celery and a bouquet garni.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
Of course she was talking about Henry Leek, the humble valet, and not about Leek's illustrious master.
Buried Alive: A Tale of These Days|Arnold Bennett

The Duke was now in a yielding mood and ate his leek humbly.
Historic Oddities|Sabine Baring-Gould

British Dictionary definitions for leek

leek

/ (liːk) /

noun

Also called: scallion an alliaceous plant, Allium porrum, with a slender white bulb, cylindrical stem, and broad flat overlapping leaves: used in cooking

any of several related species, such as A. ampeloprasum (wild leek)

a leek, or a representation of one, as a national emblem of Wales

Word Origin for leek

Old English lēac; related to Old Norse laukr, Old High German louh

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