allium
noun
al·li·um ˈa-lē-əm 
: any of a large genus (Allium) of bulbous herbs of the lily family including the onion, garlic, chive, leek, and shallot
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Globe thistle becomes a densely spiky sphere, scabiosa reveals a miniature of Buckminster Fuller’s Epcot Center ball and allium leaves behind a Sputnik-like orb. 
Wsj Off Duty Editors, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The Bits has tons of allium flavor from crispy garlic and shallots, which give it hints of sweetness too. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 4 Aug. 2022 Garlic or shallots, common additions to creamed spinach, are not going to take you far enough, especially after cream tempers their allium bite. Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 11 July 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Easy to please, allium can be planted on their own or mixed with other plants. Terri Robertson, Country Living, 27 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 See More
Wsj Off Duty Editors, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 The Bits has tons of allium flavor from crispy garlic and shallots, which give it hints of sweetness too. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 4 Aug. 2022 Garlic or shallots, common additions to creamed spinach, are not going to take you far enough, especially after cream tempers their allium bite. Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appétit, 11 July 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Easy to please, allium can be planted on their own or mixed with other plants. Terri Robertson, Country Living, 27 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 Stroll the 10-acre garden and take in a display of more than 500 variations of irises, plus perennials such as lupine, allium, Icelandic poppies and delphinium. oregonlive, 3 June 2022 See More 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
Medical Definition
allium
noun
al·li·um ˈal-ē-əm
1
capitalized : a genus of bulbous herbs (as an onion, garlic, or leek) of the lily 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