garlic

gar-lic · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A strong-smelling pungent-tasting bulb, used as a flavoring in cooking and in herbal medicine, consisting of a cluster of cloves.

  2. 2.

    The plant of the onion family that produces this bulb.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    garlic bread — bread flavored with garlic butter
  • •
    garlic clove — one segment of a garlic bulb
  • •
    garlic press — a kitchen tool for crushing garlic
  • •
    wild garlic — a wild variety of garlic with edible leaves

Related words

See also: herb, onion, shallot
Synonyms: allium

Etymology

From Old English gārlēac, from gār ("spear," referring to the shape of the cloves) + lēac ("leek"). The word has been used in English since before the 12th century.