garlic

Alternative forms

• garlicke (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English garlik, garleek, garlek, garlec, from Old English gārlēac (“garlic”, literally “spear-leek”), from gār (“spear”, in reference to the cloves) + lēac (“leek”). Cognate with Scots garlek, garleke, garlik (“garlic”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑːlɪk/
• (US) enPR: gärˈlĭk, IPA^(key): /ˈɡɑɹɫɪk/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)lɪk

Noun

garlic (countable and uncountable, plural garlics)

1. A plant, Allium sativum, related to the onion, having a pungent bulb much used in cooking.
   • 2013 March 1, David S. Senchina, “Athletics and Herbal Supplements”, in American Scientist‎, volume 101, number 2, page 134:

     Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.

Verb

garlic (third-person singular simple present garlics, present participle garlicking, simple past and past participle garlicked)

1. To flavour with garlic

See also

• alliaceous
• ramp, ramson

Further reading

• garlic on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• garlic on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons