onion
A round vegetable with many thin layers that has a strong, sharp smell and taste. It is one of the most common ingredients used in cooking worldwide to provide flavor to savory dishes.
Examples
3 of 5I need to buy a bag of onions from the grocery store.
I need to buy a bag of onions from the grocery store.
The chef recommends sautéing the onions until they are translucent.
The chef recommends sautéing the onions until they are translucent.
Can you pass me the onions for the burger?
Can you pass me the onions for the burger?
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of an onion's layers. Just as an onion has many layers that make you cry, the word 'onion' has many 'o's (at the start and middle) to remember.
Quick Quiz
I always cry when I chop a fresh ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: onion
Examples
I need to buy a bag of onions from the grocery store.
everydayI need to buy a bag of onions from the grocery store.
The chef recommends sautéing the onions until they are translucent.
formalThe chef recommends sautéing the onions until they are translucent.
Can you pass me the onions for the burger?
informalCan you pass me the onions for the burger?
The study examines the sulfuric compounds released when an onion is sliced.
academicThe study examines the sulfuric compounds released when an onion is sliced.
Our supply chain ensures that fresh onions are delivered to the kitchen daily.
businessOur supply chain ensures that fresh onions are delivered to the kitchen daily.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
know your onions
to be very knowledgeable about a subject
peeling back the layers of an onion
exploring a complex situation step by step
onion soup
a popular soup made primarily of onions
Often Confused With
Both are pungent bulbs, but garlic is much smaller and grows in cloves, while an onion is a single large bulb.
Shallots are smaller, elongated, and have a milder, sweeter flavor than standard onions.
Usage Notes
The word 'onion' is a countable noun. However, when referring to it as an ingredient in a general sense, it can sometimes function like an uncountable noun (e.g., 'Add more onion to the salad').
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes forget the plural 's' when referring to multiple onions or misspell the word by omitting the second 'o'.
Memory Tip
Think of an onion's layers. Just as an onion has many layers that make you cry, the word 'onion' has many 'o's (at the start and middle) to remember.
Word Origin
From the Old French 'oignon', which comes from the Latin 'unio', meaning 'oneness' or 'unity' because the onion bulb grows as a single unit.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Onions are considered a culinary staple in almost every global cuisine, forming the 'aromatic base' for soups and stews in many cultures.
Quick Quiz
I always cry when I chop a fresh ______.
Correct!
The correct answer is: onion
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
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