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leek

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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See also: Leek

English

Etymology

From Middle English leke, leek, lek, from Old English lēac (a garden herb, leek, onion, garlic), from Proto-West Germanic *lauk, from Proto-Germanic *lauką *laukaz (leek, onion), from Proto-Indo-European *lewg- (to bend).

Cognate with Dutch look (garlic, leek), German Low German Look (leek), German Lauch (leek, allium), Danish løg (onion), Swedish lök (onion), Icelandic laukur (onion, leek, garlic). See garlic.

Pronunciation

Noun

leek (plural leeks)

  1. A vegetable of variety Allium ampeloprasum, having edible leaves and an onion-like bulb but with a milder flavour than the onion.
  2. Any of several species of Allium, broadly resembling the domesticated plant in appearance in the wild.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

  • Maori: riki

Translations

See also

Further reading

Anagrams

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Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Latin lāicus (layman, laic), from Ancient Greek λαϊκός (laïkós, of the people), from λαός (laós, the people).

Noun

leek m (plural leken, diminutive leekje n)

  1. layman, non-clergyman
    Antonyms: clericus, geestelijke
    In de middeleeuwen was er een duidelijk verschil tussen geestelijken en leken.In the Middle Ages, there was a clear distinction between clergy and laymen.
    Hij is een leek in kerkelijke zaken.He is a layman in ecclesiastical matters.
  2. layman, non-expert, amateur
    Antonyms: deskundige, expert, professional
    Als leek op dit gebied, kan ik je niet veel advies geven.As a layman in this field, I can't give you much advice.
    Veel leken vinden het moeilijk om dit te begrijpen.Many amateurs find it difficult to understand this.
Derived terms
  • lekenapostolaat
  • lekenpersoneel
  • lekenrechter
  • lekenstand

Adjective

leek (comparative leker, superlative leekst)

  1. (obsolete) lay, worldly, secular, profane
Declension
More information Declension of, uninflected ...

Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch leke, from Old Dutch *leke, from Old Norse lœkr, from Proto-Germanic *lōkiz. Cognate with Dutch laak, English lake.

Noun

leek ? (plural leken, diminutive leekje n)

  1. small body of water, like a pool; gave rise to place names

Etymology 3

Local dialect in the Dutch region Betuwe, from Latin lapathum (kind of sorrel).

Noun

leek ? (plural leken, diminutive leekje n)

  1. (botany) the plant Rumex crispus
    Synonym: krulzuring
  2. (by extension) related plants of that genus: sorrel, dock
Derived terms
  • koeleek

Etymology 4

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

leek

  1. singular past indicative of lijken

Verb

leek

  1. inflection of leken:
    1. first-person singular present indicative
    2. (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
    3. imperative

Anagrams

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Estonian

Etymology

From Proto-Finnic *leekki, cognate to Finnish liekki and Karelian liekki. Possibly the same root as in Votic lõõkkua (to move, to sway) and Finnish liekkua.

Noun

leek (genitive leegi, partitive leeki)

  1. blaze, flame, fire
    Mu korter on leekides.
    My apartment is up in flames.

Declension

More information Declension of (ÕS type 22e/riik, k-g gradation), singular ...

Derived terms

Middle English

Noun

leek

  1. alternative form of lek

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