clove

¹ American  

[klohv] / kloʊv /

noun

1. the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, Syzygium aromaticum, of the myrtle family, used whole or ground as a spice.

2. the tree itself.

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clove ² American  

[klohv] / kloʊv /

noun

Botany.

1. one of the small bulbs formed in the axils of the scales of a mother bulb, as in garlic.

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clove ³ American  

[klohv] / kloʊv /

verb

1. a simple past tense of cleave.

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clove ⁴ American  

[klohv] / kloʊv /

noun

1. a British unit of weight for wool, cheese, etc., usually equivalent to 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms).

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clove ¹ British  

/ kləʊv /

noun

1. a tropical evergreen myrtaceous tree, Syzygium aromaticum , native to the East Indies but cultivated elsewhere, esp Zanzibar

2. the dried unopened flower buds of this tree, used as a pungent fragrant spice

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clove ² British  

/ kləʊv /

noun

1. any of the segments of a compound bulb that arise from the axils of the scales of a large bulb

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clove ³ British  

/ kləʊv /

verb

1. a past tense of cleave 1

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Etymology

Origin of clove¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English clow(e), clo(ve), clawe (short for clow-gilofre from Old French clo, clou, clau (de gilofre, girofle), literally “nail of the gillyflower”; see origin at clou, gillyflower

Origin of clove²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English clove, clof, clowe, Old English clufe (plural) “ears of grain, cloves of garlic”; (cognate with Middle Dutch clōve, Dutch kloof ); akin to cleave ²

Origin of clove⁴

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English claue, clou from Anglo-French clove, earlier clou, equivalent to Anglo-Latin clāvus “nail” (also used as a unit of linear measure), from Latin clāvus; see clove ¹

Example Sentences

“I think Clove thought I was having a psychotic break.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

There has been a sobering awareness in the WhatsApp group chat where Clove Galilee has kept up with her neighbors since the Palisades fire destroyed their homes.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2025

This 59,633-square-foot, block-through property in Crown Heights includes 240 feet of frontage on Nostrand Avenue and 250 feet on Clove Road.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2021

His new book for Rizzoli, “A Year at Clove Brook Farm,” showcases events held at the farm, including a peony luncheon and end-of-summer cocktails in the garden.

From Seattle Times • May 31, 2021

I flip over and my feet dip into the hard-packed earth as I run away from Thresh and Clove and the sound of Cato's voice.

From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

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