nutmeg

American  

[nuht-meg] / ˈnʌt mɛg /

noun

1. the hard, aromatic seed of the fruit of an East Indian tree, Myristica fragrans, used in grated form as a spice.

2. the similar product of certain other trees of the same genus or other genera.

3. a tree bearing such seeds.

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nutmeg British  

/ ˈnʌtmɛɡ /

noun

1. an East Indian evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, cultivated in the tropics for its hard aromatic seed: family Myristicaceae See also mace 2

2. the seed of this tree, used as a spice

3. any of several similar trees or their fruit

4. a greyish-brown colour

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verb

1. informal sport to kick or hit the ball between the legs of (an opposing player)

Other Word Forms

• nutmegged
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nutmeg

1300–50; Middle English notemug ( g ) e, perhaps back formation from *notemugede ( -ede being taken as -ed ³ ), equivalent to note nut + mugede < Old French < Late Latin muscāta musky; see musk, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Jamaican jerk seasoning, made with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, is a reminder that the spice route reached all the way to the Western Hemisphere.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Warm, cozy spices take center stage: brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, a little orange zest.

From Salon • Oct. 7, 2025

You can also try spicing up your vanilla, per Redditor u/shazeaa: “Vanilla bean and some nutmeg to bring on the richness!”

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2025

The cafe now offers six varieties and Ms Geraedts said customers loved the dish's rich, comforting flavour, seasoned with cayenne pepper, nutmeg, paprika and Worcestershire sauce.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2025

The pungent fumes of kerosene smoke mixed with the aroma of curry and nutmeg from the kitchen.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• cantaloupe
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• papaya
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