: a biennial herbaceous plant (Allium porrum synonym A. ampeloprasum var. porrum) of the amaryllis family that is related to the garlic, onion and chive and is commonly grown as an annual for its mildly pungent linear leaves and especially for its cylindrical stemlike lower sheath of leaves
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The food is rustic and cosmopolitan at once — bright, monumental salads, whole carrots and leeks baptized by fire, skeins of pasta, and Parmigiano snowing down — but the secret is the seeming effortlessness.—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026 However, because onions and leeks are naturally repellent to most pests, they can usually be grown together without any issues.—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026 Although our pros suggest planting climbers and lower-growing root vegetables together as a general rule, there's a special exception for beans and members of the allium family, such as onions, garlic, chives, leeks, or shallots.—Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 7 May 2026 Fresh produce such as asparagus, leeks and peas tends to steal the spotlight this time of year, and our team has certainly been leaning into vegetable-forward dishes as of late.—Victoria Caruso, Washington Post, 26 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leek
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English lēac; akin to Old High German louh leek
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of leek was
before the 12th century