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Glite Dictionary
onion plant

onion plant

1.0
A plant with a round bulb you can eat and long hollow leaves
  • noun
  • /ˈʌnjən plænt/
translation icon : planta de cebolla
  • Farmers harvest the bulbs from the onion plant when the leaves begin to yellow and fall over.

Examples

  • Growing an onion plant from seed can take several months before it's ready for harvest.

  • The onion plant thrives in well-drained, fertile soils with plenty of sunlight.

  • The onion plant thrives in well-drained soil.

  • An onion plant produces a bulb that is rich in flavor.

  • Egyptian onion plants are known for their unique flavor and ability to grow in various climates.

  • Many gardeners prefer to start their crops with onion plants instead of seeds for a quicker yield.

  • You can easily find onion plants at your local nursery in the spring.

Synonyms

Allium cepa
vsonion plant
  • Specialized
4.8

A plant like a common onion that has a round edible bulb

is the everyday common name used instead of the Latin term

How Mature

onion plant
1.0
green onion
  • US
12 1.1

Surface Forms

onion plant singular
onion plants plural

Morphology

onion + plant

The meaning of 'onion plant' — a plant that is an onion or produces onions — is directly and transparently derived from combining 'onion' (a round vegetable) with 'plant' (a living organism). This straightforward noun+noun composition follows regular compounding patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Onion plant gets its name from a simple picture: the onion is the round, layered bulb and the plant is what grows it. One popular idea says the word 'onion' came from an old word meaning 'one' because the bulb is a single round lump, so onion plant naturally means a plant that makes the edible bulb.