leek
leek
Leek (noun) means a long, mild-flavoured vegetable related to the onion, with white and green layered leaves. Example: “She added chopped leeks to the potato soup for extra flavour.”
noun
1
A long, mild-flavoured vegetable related to the onion, with white and green layered leaves.
"She added chopped leeks to the potato soup for extra flavour."
"Leeks need a good rinse to remove the grit trapped between their layers."
How to use leek
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA vegetable in the onion family with a milder, sweeter taste.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "leak," a hole that lets liquid or gas escape — the two are pronounced identically.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- leeks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She added chopped _____ to the potato soup for extra flavour.
Etymology
From Old English lēac, "leek, onion, garlic" — a Germanic word shared with Dutch and German terms for similar vegetables.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for leek
See all rhymes for leek →Frequently asked questions
What does “leek” mean?
The word “leek” means a long, mild-flavoured vegetable related to the onion, with white and green layered leaves. In plain terms, a vegetable in the onion family with a milder, sweeter taste.
How do you pronounce “leek”?
“Leek” is pronounced leek (/liːk/ in IPA).
How do you use “leek” in a sentence?
Here is “leek” used in a sentence: “She added chopped leeks to the potato soup for extra flavour.”
What part of speech is “leek”?
“Leek” is a noun.
Where does the word “leek” come from?
The word “leek” comes from Old English. From Old English lēac, "leek, onion, garlic" — a Germanic word shared with Dutch and German terms for similar vegetables.
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