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onion

[ uhn-yuhn ]

noun

  1. a plant, Allium cepa, of the amaryllis family, having an edible, succulent, pungent bulb.
  2. any of certain similar plants.
  3. the bulb of the onion plant.
  4. the flavor or odor of this bulb.
  5. Slang. a person:

    He's a tough onion.



adjective

  1. containing or cooked with onions:

    onion soup.

  2. of, relating to, or resembling an onion.

onion

/ ˈʌə /

noun

  1. an alliaceous plant, Allium cepa, having greenish-white flowers: cultivated for its rounded edible bulb
  2. the bulb of this plant, consisting of concentric layers of white succulent leaf bases with a pungent odour and taste
  3. any of several related plants similar to A. cepa, such as A. fistulosum (Welsh onion)
  4. know one's onions slang.
    to be fully acquainted with a subject
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈDzԾDzԲ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • DziDz· adjective
  • DziDz· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of onion1

1325–75; Middle English onyon < Old French oignon < Latin ūԾō- (stem of ūԾō ) a unity, large pearl, onion; union
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Word History and Origins

Origin of onion1

C14: via Anglo-Norman from Old French oignon, from Latin unio onion, related to union
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. know one's onions, Slang. to know one's subject or business thoroughly; be capable or proficient.

More idioms and phrases containing onion

see know one's stuff (onions) .
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At least 90 people have been diagnosed with E. coli in a multistate outbreak that health officials say likely stems from onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounders.

From

My favorite way to cook frozen peas is sautéing them in a hot pan alongside butter, minced garlic, finely chopped onions and lemon juice.

From

Add some sliced tomato, avocado and red onion if you’re feeling fancy—and eat it slow, because every bite is worth it.

From

The squishy Amoroso’s roll is packed with finely shaved Black Angus beef, fried onions and melted American cheese — though mushrooms and halal chicken are also available as fillings.

From

It was chicken and rice — creamy, cozy, brimming with tender carrots and onions and served with a little hunk of sourdough.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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