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onion definition

on·ion (un′yən)

noun

  1. a plant (Allium cepa) of the lily family, having an edible bulb with a strong, sharp smell and taste
  2. the bulb of this plant, formed of close, concentric layers of leaf bases
  3. any of various related plants

Etymology: ME oynon < OFr oignon < L unio (gen. unionis), oneness, unity, also a kind of single onion: see union

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms onion idiom

onion Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • chop: Finish chopping the onion, with a blunt knife.

Adjective modifier

  • pickled: Basically, pickled onions are just small onions pickled in vinegar.

Modifies a noun

  • gravy: Sprinkle with the reserved crispy bacon and serve immediately with the sausages and onion gravy.

Noun used with modifier

  • spring: Sprinkle with chopped chives or young spring onions, then a layer of bacon cut dice size.
onion usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

onion quotes

Let onion atoms lurk within the bowl, And, half-suspected, animate the whole.

-Smith, Rev Sydney

onion quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"onion." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/onion>

APA Style

onion. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/onion

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