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.

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allium British  

/ ˈælɪəm /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Allium, such as the onion, garlic, shallot, leek, or chive: family Alliaceae

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Etymology

Origin of allium

1800–10; < New Latin, Latin: garlic

Example Sentences

Onions — and their extended allium family, which includes garlic, leeks, shallots, chives and scallions—are nature’s greatest flavor amplifiers.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2025

Brimming with bright allium and capsaicin flavors, the sambal chili shredded roast chicken is served over a mound of rice with green beans, snappy kimchi and fried shallots.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 19, 2023

And scallion whites and greens, also added at different stages in the stir-fry, contribute an allium bite.

From Washington Times • May 2, 2023

During a helicopter trip through California’s Klamath Mountains, Julie Kierstead, a research associate with the academy, stumbled upon an unfamiliar species of allium — the group of flowering plants including onions, garlic and shallots.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2023

It was the common food also of the Roman labourer, but Horace could only wonder at the "dura messorum illia" that could digest the plant "cicutis allium nocentius."

From The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare by Ellacombe, Henry Nicholson