leek

noun \ ˈlēk \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of leek

: a biennial garden herb (Allium porrum synonym A. ampeloprasum porrum) of the lily family that is commonly grown as an annual for its mildly pungent succulent linear leaves and especially for its thick cylindrical stalk

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Recent Examples of leek from the Web

In the vegetable store, artichokes, fava beans, radicchio, tomatoes, carrots, leeks and squash blossoms are so artfully arranged as to shame any Whole Foods market.

— necee regis, BostonGlobe.com, "Resort’s Tuscany cooking class has all the right ingredients," 2 July 2018
Add the onion, leek, shallot, carrot, celery, garlic and 1 tablespoon kosher salt.

— claire perez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "'Tis the season for Sweet corn bisque," 4 May 2018
Herb thugs in my yard are tansy and clivers (medicinal use), and garlic chives (aka Chinese leeks) and lemon balm (culinary use).

— margaret lauterbach, idahostatesman, "Growing and drying herbs in summer is a great way to benefit your culinary world," 8 June 2018
Plant out leek seedlings now for harvest in late summer and fall, and again in late winter for harvest the next summer and fall.

— pam peirce, SFChronicle.com, "How Bay Area gardeners can grow their own soup," 1 June 2018
Wide noodles, chunky pieces of skin-on breast meat, and a garnish of fresh dill and sweet caramelized leeks update this classic comfort food.

— Country Living, "Soup Recipes," 26 Aug. 2012
The dilled gnocchi with fiddleheads, ramps, and Westphalian ham in leek cream was a beautifully rich ode to spring.

— craig laban, Philly.com, "Craig LaBan's first bite of the Delaware beaches | A dining guide," 15 June 2018
Put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the leeks with sea salt and pepper to taste until lightly browned, about 15 minutes, stirring frequently.

— ellise pierce, star-telegram, "Take picnic food up a notch by adding Parisian flair | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 25 Apr. 2018
Flowering leeks have a tough stalk that subsumes the rest of the plant.

— pam peirce, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bloom and doom in the biennial garden: Why you should harvest before spring," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.