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Glite Dictionary
giant garlic

giant garlic

2.9
A large vegetable like a leek with a mild garlic taste
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒaɪənt ˈɡɑrlɪk/
translation icon : ajo gigante
  • The recipe recommends slicing giant garlic and sautéing it as you would with regular leeks.

Examples

  • Many chefs prefer giant garlic for its mild flavour and impressive size when preparing soups.

  • We planted giant garlic in our garden next to the traditional leeks and onions.

  • I bought some giant garlic at the farmer's market.

  • Do you know where to find giant garlic?

  • Many chefs prefer giant garlic for its mild flavour and impressive size when preparing soups.

  • The recipe recommends slicing giant garlic and sautéing it as you would with regular leeks.

  • We planted giant garlic in our garden next to the traditional leeks and onions.

Synonyms

Spanish garlic
vsgiant garlic
  • UK
6.4

A European variety of leek with a mild taste used in cooking

is the same but highlighted for large size and mild flavour
Allium ampeloprasum
vsgiant garlic
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild leek plant with a large bulb and a tall flower stalk

is a cultivated European variety notable for size and milder taste

Surface Forms

giant garlic singular
giant garlics plural

Morphology

giant + garlic

The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'giant' (very large) + 'garlic' (the plant/food), so a B1 learner who knows both words will infer it refers to unusually large garlic. While botanical specifics (that it is a particular Allium variety similar to leek) are specialist knowledge, the basic meaning 'large garlic' is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

The name giant garlic may come from the plant's very large bulbs: the 'giant' part shows its size and the 'garlic' part because the bulbs look like a head of garlic. One popular story says people began to call this mild, leek-like plant giant garlic, and that's why the name now means 'a very large, mild leek used in cooking'.