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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
onion noun 1 any of numerous varieties of a biennial plant belonging to the lily family, native to SW Asia. 2 the edible bulb of this plant, which consists of white fleshy scales and a pungent oil, surrounded by a brown papery outer layer, and is eaten raw, cooked or pickled. 3 the long tubular leaves of a young onion plant (called a spring onion), eaten as a salad vegetable. onion-like adj. oniony adj. know one's onions colloq to know one's subject or job well.
ETYMOLOGY: 14c: from Anglo-Norman union, from French oignon, from Latin unio unity, a large pearl, or an onion.
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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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