garlic

[gahr-lik]

noun

1. a hardy plant, Allium sativum, of the amaryllis family, whose strongly pungent bulb is used in cooking and medicine.

2. any of various plants of the genus Allium related to the familiar culinary garlic A. sativum.

3. the bulb of Allium sativum, consisting of smaller bulbs, or cloves, used in cooking, sometimes in the form of a powder, a paste, or minced pieces.

4. the flavor or smell of this bulb.

adjective

1. cooked, flavored, or seasoned with garlic, the pungent bulb of the Allium sativum plant.

   garlic bread;

   garlic salt.

2. of or relating to garlic.

garlic

/ ˈɡɑːlɪk /

noun

1. a hardy widely cultivated Asian alliaceous plant, Allium sativum, having a stem bearing whitish flowers and bulbils

2. 1. the bulb of this plant, made up of small segments (cloves) that have a strong odour and pungent taste and are used in cooking

   2. ( as modifier )

      a garlic taste

3. any of various other plants of the genus Allium

Other Word Forms

• garlicked adjective
• garlicky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of garlic¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English garlec, Old English gārlēac ( gar “spear”, cognate with German Ger, + lēac leek )

Word History and Origins

Origin of garlic¹

Old English gārlēac, from gār spear + lēac _leek

Example Sentences

It came with silky, creamy hummus, incredible toum — a garlic lover’s dream — and Yemeni flatbread, making for an unforgettable combination of flavors.

From Salon

Sage gets to announce fall, mint conjures spring, dill earns cult status in Alison Roman’s corner of the internet and garlic is beloved across the board.

From Salon

On Tuesday afternoon, Tran stood in the shade of the store’s entrance, helping a customer put some garlic bulbs in a plastic bag.

From Los Angeles Times

Approximately 43,830 garlic presses in the U.S. and an additional 10,700 sold in Canada are subject to the recall.

From Salon

TJ’s take on a classic Vietnamese dish includes minced and fried shrimp and veggies that are generously seasoned with a blend of ginger, garlic, sesame oil and lemongrass.

From Salon