allium

noun

al·​li·​um ˈa-lē-əm 

plural alliums

: any of a large genus (Allium) of bulbous herbs of the amaryllis family that includes the onion, garlic, chive, and leek

Examples of allium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In adequate growing conditions—sunny locations with well-draining soil—allium will bloom just as other flowering bulbs like tulips are fading. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025

Onion, garlic, and other allium vegetables are toxic in any form and may cause anemia. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

To turn those aromatic alliums into a sauce, simply add umami-rich tomato paste, spice things up with a splash of hot sauce and a handful of seasonings, add mustard, vinegar, and sugar for balance, and blend it all up with some broth. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025

Free samples of garlic ice cream drew more adventurous crowds, and while the bizarre mix of sharp allium and cool creaminess was not to everyone’s taste, others were delighted with the treat. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 25 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin ālium, allium "garlic," of uncertain origin

Note: Compared with Latin āla "wing," if the cloves of a garlic head are comparable to wings, though neither the derivational relationship nor the analogy are more than speculative.

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for allium

• gallium
• pallium
• thallium

Medical Definition

allium

noun

al·​li·​um ˈal-ē-əm 

1

Allium : a genus of bulbous herbs (as an onion, garlic, or leek) of the amaryllis family distinguished by a characteristic odor, sheathing, mostly basal leaves, and clusters of usually white, blue, purple, pink, or red flowers

2

a

: a plant of the genus Allium

b

: the bulb of garlic formerly used in medicine especially as an expectorant and rubefacient