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

• enPR: lēk, IPA^(key): /liːk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːk
• Homophone: leak

Noun

leek (plural leeks)

1. The vegetable Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum, 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

• (Allium ampeloprasum): broadleaf wild leek, the Cambrian symbol (literary), garden leek, scallion (US, Scotland)

Derived terms

Descendants

• → Maori: riki

Translations

See also

• garlic
• leak
• Thrips tabaci

Further reading

• leek on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Allium ampeloprasum on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• leek at USDA Plants database

Anagrams

• Kele, elke, keel, lekë

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leːk/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: leek
• Rhymes: -eːk
• Homophone: Leek

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

   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.

   Het kleine leekje in de kerk was erg nieuwsgierig. ― The young layman in the church was very curious.

2. layman, non-expert, amateur

   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.

   Het leekje probeerde zijn best te doen, ondanks zijn gebrek aan ervaring. ― The young amateur tried his best, despite his lack of experience.

Antonyms

• clericus, geestelijke
• deskundige, expert, professional

Derived terms

• lekenapostolaat
• lekenpersoneel
• lekenrechter
• lekenstand

Adjective

leek (comparative leker, superlative leekst)

1. (obsolete) lay, worldly, secular, profane

Inflection

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
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. imperative

Anagrams

• keel, leke

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

Derived terms

• leegiheitja

Middle English

Noun

leek

1. Alternative form of lek