chive Meaning & Definition
What Does Chive Mean?
Chive is used as a noun meaning A perennial plant, Allium schoenoprasum, related to the onion. It is also used to mean The leaves of this plant used as a herb. As a verb, it means To stab. As a verb, it means (thieves' cant) To stab.
Chive: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //t͡ʃaɪv// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | cive, allium schoenoprasum and schnittlaugh |
| Plural | chives |
| Verb forms | chives, chiving, chived |
Chive Definition (Noun)
- A perennial plant, Allium schoenoprasum, related to the onion.
- The leaves of this plant used as a herb.
Chive herb. (attributive use)
- The spring onion; the green onion; the scallion.
Noun
- A piece cut off; sliver.
- The filament which supports the anther of a flower; stamen, especially of saffron.
Noun
- A knife.
- A file.
- A saw.
Chive as a Verb
- To stab.
- To cut.
Noun
- (in the plural) The leaves of this plant used as a herb.
- The style and stigma of a flower, especially saffron.
Noun
- (thieves' cant) A knife.
- (thieves' cant) A file.
- (thieves' cant) A saw.
Verb
- (thieves' cant) To stab.
- (thieves' cant) To cut.
Synonyms of Chive
Chive synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Chive
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Chive in a Sentence
Chive herb. (attributive use)
Word Forms & Grammar
chive (plural chives)
chive (third-person singular simple present chives, present participle chiving, simple past and past participle chived)
Words That Rhyme With Chive
Origin of Chive
Origin 1: From Middle English chive~cyve, from Old French chive~cive, from Latin cēpa (“onion”).
Origin 2: From Middle English chive, chyve, variant of chith, chyth, from Old English ċīþ (“shoot, scion, sprout”). Doublet of chit and scion.
Origin 3: From Romani chive, chiv, chivvomengro (“knife, dagger, blade”).
Pronouncing Chive
The standard pronunciation of chive is //t͡ʃaɪv//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Quick Answers About Chive
Is chive a noun or a verb?
Chive is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a verb.
What is another word for chive?
You can replace chive with words such as cive, allium schoenoprasum and schnittlaugh. See the full list of chive synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of chive?
The plural of chive is chives.
What is the past tense of chive?
The past tense of chive is chived. The present participle is chiving.