leek

noun

ˈlēk 

plural leeks

: 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

Illustration of leek

Examples of leek in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There's a kitchen garden, which supplies the royal kitchen with heritage produce, including leeks, cabbages, and Brussel sprouts, plus a tunnel outfitted with apple trees. —Elle Meier, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026

For this Design District restaurant, consulting chef Quiñones-Pittman was an excellent partner to create dishes like mussels with chicharron-leek butter and pulpo al pastor. —Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 1 Mar. 2026

Prepare this dish by shredding the chicken and chopping the carrots and leeks up to two days in advance. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026

Stretching late into the evening, a three-course dinner included leeks with sauce gribiche, steak au poivre, or squash tarte tatin followed—all with an obligatory side of fries, of course. —Avon Dorsey, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for leek

• beak
• beek
• bleak
• cheek
• chic
• clique
• creak
• creek
• eke
• freak
• geek
• greek

Kids Definition

leek

noun

ˈlēk 

: a garden herb closely related to the onion and grown for its mildly sharp-tasting leaves and thick stalk