Definition

1. Noun:
   • An aromatic flavorful vegetable: A round vegetable with a strong smell and taste, consisting of multiple layers, used widely in cooking.
   • A bulbous plant having hollow leaves cultivated worldwide for its rounded edible bulb: The plant (Allium cepa) that produces this vegetable.
   • The bulb of an onion plant: The specific edible part of the plant, which grows underground.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Vegetable):
  • I need one large onion for the soup recipe.
  • The recipe starts by sautéing chopped onion in oil.
• Noun (Plant):
  • We are growing onions in the garden this year.
  • Onion plants have long, hollow green leaves.

Advanced Usage

• "to know one's onions" (idiom): to be very knowledgeable or skilled in a particular area.
  • Ask Julia about tax law; she really knows her onions.
• "to be off one's onion" (idiom, slang): to be crazy or insane.
  • He must be off his onion to try something so dangerous.

Variants and Related Words

• Oniony (adj): Having the taste or smell of onions.
  • The sauce had a strong, oniony flavor.
• Spring onion / Green onion (n): A type of onion with a small white bulb and long green leaves, eaten raw or cooked.
  • Garnish the salad with chopped spring onions.

Synonyms

• Bulb (when referring to the vegetable's form).
• Allium (the botanical genus name).

Idioms Related

• "to know one's onions": To be competent and experienced in one's field.
• "to be off one's onion": To be mentally unstable or irrational.

Noun

1. an aromatic flavorful vegetable
2. bulbous plant having hollow leaves cultivated worldwide for its rounded edible bulb
3. the bulb of an onion plant