Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
triquetrous leek

triquetrous leek

9.9
A European leek with triangular leaves that grows wild in Britain
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : puerro triquetro
  • Gardeners appreciate the unique shape of the triquetrous leek's leaves.

Examples

  • The triquetrous leek thrives in damp meadows across parts of Britain.

  • While foraging, she identified a patch of triquetrous leek by its characteristic triangular stems.

  • The triquetrous leek is often found in moist habitats.

  • Have you ever tasted a triquetrous leek?

  • Gardeners appreciate the unique shape of the triquetrous leek's leaves.

  • The triquetrous leek thrives in damp meadows across parts of Britain.

  • While foraging, she identified a patch of triquetrous leek by its characteristic triangular stems.

Synonyms

three-cornered leek
vstriquetrous leek
  • UK
9.9

A wild plant from Europe with three-sided leaves that can spread quickly

is the same plant but called with a different descriptive name
Allium triquetrum
vstriquetrous leek
  • Specialized
9.9

A small wild onion with triangular leaves and white bell-shaped flowers

is a simpler description that omits flower details

Surface Forms

triquetrous leek singular
triquetrous leeks plural

Morphology

triquetrous + leek

This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: if a learner knows 'triquetrous' (three‑cornered/triangular) and 'leek' (the vegetable), the meaning 'a leek with triangular leaves' follows directly. Although 'triquetrous' is rare/obscure in English, the semantic combination is fully compositional and therefore transparent to learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Triquetrous leek: The name triquetrous leek comes from a word meaning 'three-sided'. The word triquetrous points to its triangular leaves or stems and leek shows it is the vegetable, so the name describes its shape.