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Definition of garlic

garlic

/ˈɡɑːr.lɪk/
gar · lic
Adjective:garlicky
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garlic Lexical Profile

garlic Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The strongly scented and pungent bulb of a plant belonging to the onion family, composed of multiple cloves and widely used as a flavoring in culinary dishes worldwide.

Example

"She finely minced two cloves of fresh garlic to add aromatic flavor to the simmering tomato sauce."

2

A bulbous perennial plant (Allium sativum) in the amaryllis family, native to Central Asia and globally cultivated for its culinary and medicinal properties.

Example

"The farmer planted the garlic in late autumn, ensuring the bulbs would have enough time to establish roots before winter."

• Rhymes for garlic

• Nearby Words

garishly
garland
garland flower
garlic
garlic chive
garlic chives
garlic powder

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'gārlēac', a compound formed from 'gār' (spear) and 'lēac' (leek), referring to the plant's spear-shaped leaves.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Garlic. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/garlic
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