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Glite Dictionary
Allium sativum

Allium sativum

3.9
A plant with a bulb and strong tasting cloves used in cooking and medicine
  • noun
  • /ˈæliəm səˈtɪvəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ajo
  • You can find Allium sativum in many dishes around the world, from pasta sauces to stir-fries.

Examples

  • Medicinally, Allium sativum has been known to boost the immune system.

  • Allium sativum is commonly used in cooking for its strong flavor and aroma.

  • l'm going to inject you with allium sativum-- garlic.

    Blade (1998)

Synonyms

garlic
vsAllium sativum
244 1.0

A plant with a strong smell and taste whose bulb people use in cooking and sometimes for medicine

is the formal Latin name used in scientific contexts

Surface Forms

Allium sativum singular
Allium sativums plural

Morphology

Allium + sativum

The name is a Latin binomial rather than a standard English multiword construction: knowing 'Allium' gives a cue that it is in the onion/garlic plant group, but 'sativum' is a Latin epithet (not a common English word) and does not transparently yield the specific meaning 'garlic' to a B1 learner. Identification as the common food item requires botanical or Latin knowledge, so the relation to the constituents is partial but not fully predictable.

Etymology

The scientific name Allium sativum comes from Latin: Allium means 'garlic' and sativum means 'cultivated' or 'grown'. So Allium sativum simply names the garlic people grow for food and medicine.