Definition

Noun: A type of onion plant (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) that reproduces primarily by forming clusters of small, mild-flavored bulbs underground, rather than from a single large bulb or from seed. These small bulbs are used as a seasoning.

Usage

The term "multiplier onion" refers specifically to the plant itself and its characteristic growth habit. It is a common name for certain perennial onion varieties.

Examples

• Noun:
  • I planted multiplier onions in my garden this spring.
  • The recipe calls for the mild flavor of multiplier onions.
  • Unlike standard onions, a multiplier onion divides to form a cluster of bulbs.

Advanced Usage

• Botanical Context: In gardening and agriculture, "multiplier onion" is often used interchangeably with terms like "potato onion" or "shallot" (in some regions), though there can be botanical distinctions. It describes the plant's vegetative reproduction method.
  • The farmer explained that multiplier onions are more reliable in our climate than growing from seed.

Variants and Related Words

• Potato Onion (n): A common synonym for a type of multiplier onion that produces bulbs similar in appearance to potatoes underground.
• Shallot (n): While often considered a distinct type, in many contexts, especially culinary, shallots are a well-known variety of multiplier onion.
• Allium cepa var. aggregatum (n): The formal botanical name for the multiplier onion.

Synonyms

• Cluster Onion: Emphasizes the growth form.
• Dividing Onion: Describes the reproductive method.

Notes

This term is primarily used in horticulture, gardening, and cooking. It is not typically used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs, as it is a specific noun for a type of plant.

Noun

1. type of onion plant producing small clustered mild-flavored bulbs used as seasoning