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Definition of chive

chive

/tʃaɪv/
chive
Plural:chives
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chive Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The slender, hollow, tubular green leaf of the plant Allium schoenoprasum (usually used in the plural), possessing a mild onion-like flavor and widely used as a fresh culinary herb and garnish.

Example

"She topped the baked potato with sour cream and a generous sprinkle of finely chopped chives."

2

A small, clump-forming perennial plant (Allium schoenoprasum) in the amaryllis family, native to Europe, Asia, and North America, cultivated for its edible green shoots and spherical purple flower heads.

Example

"A border of hardy chives grew along the sunny edge of the kitchen garden."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chive

• Rhymes for chive

• Nearby Words

chittenango
chittenango falls
chitterlings
chive
chlidanthus
chlorophonia
cho oyu

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in Middle English from Old French cive, which derives directly from the Latin cepa, meaning 'onion'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chive. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chive
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