leek

American  

[leek] / lik /

noun

1. 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.

2. any of various onion-related plants, especially the wild leek, Allium ampeloprasum, from which the culinary leek was cultivated.

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leek British  

/ liːk /

noun

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

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

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

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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

Among England's Tudor rose, Scotland's thistle, the Welsh leek and the Irish shamrock are the Canadian maple leaf and India's lotus flower.

From BBC

After making speeches, the royal couple took part in the annual tradition of presenting handmade leeks to officers and soldiers to wear on their chests.

From BBC

Just add hot water to unleash flavors of mushroom, leek, seafood and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 51-year-old laughed as he shared that they eat leeks and lamb - and that they have a leek-eating competition on 1 March.

From BBC

Altogether, the color, flavor and textural differentiation is incredibly varied: briny, oily, herbaceous sauce slicks the crisped salmon, with the crunchy leeks providing another dimension of flavor and texture.

From Salon