clove

[ klohv ]

/ kloʊv /

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See synonyms for: clove / cloves on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

the tree itself.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of clove

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

Words nearby clove

cloudware, cloudy, Clouet, Clough, clout, clove, clove hitch, Clovelly, cloven, cloven hoof, cloven-hoofed

Other definitions for clove (2 of 4)

clove²

[ klohv ]

/ kloʊv /

noun Botany.

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

Origin of clove

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 cleave²

Other definitions for clove (3 of 4)

clove³

[ klohv ]

/ kloʊv /

verb

a simple past tense of cleave².

Other definitions for clove (4 of 4)

clove⁴

[ klohv ]

/ kloʊv /

noun

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

Origin of clove

⁴

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), fromLatin clāvus; see clove¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use clove in a sentence

A couple cloves of garlic thrown into the mix can work wonders.
Potatoes aren’t the only vegetables you should be mashing|Aaron Hutcherson|January 20, 2021|Washington Post
So next time you have to peel eight cloves of garlic for some homemade marinara, you’ll be grateful to have this little tube.
Nine kitchen gifts that do one thing really well|Sara Chodosh|November 26, 2020|Popular-Science
You just roll the cloves inside, then tip them out all peeled.
Nine kitchen gifts that do one thing really well|Sara Chodosh|November 26, 2020|Popular-Science
Let the garlic cool, then mince the cloves and add them to the mayonnaise mixture.
Ease into Winter with Backcountry-Approved Comfort Food|Christina Bernstein|November 12, 2020|Outside Online

Slicing or crushing a clove of garlic triggers chemical reactions that cause new sulphurous aroma molecules to form.
There’s a science to food pairing, and you can learn it here|Peter Coucquyt, Bernard Lahousse, and Johan Langenbick|October 22, 2020|Popular-Science
A single meal could include clove, cumin, jalapeños, Madeira, sweet potatoes, and whipped heavy cream.
The Best Thanksgiving Wines|Sophie Menin|November 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Pour the glaze over the clove-studded ham so all of the scored fat is covered.
Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Easy Trifle|The Daily Beast|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
Score the now trimmed fat into a diamond pattern with a sharp knife, and stud the points of each diamond with a clove.
Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Easy Trifle|The Daily Beast|December 23, 2008|DAILY BEAST
The clove-tree is somewhat smaller, and cannot boast of such luxuriant foliage, or such fine large leaves as the nutmeg-tree.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
I have sought you despite of danger—for my heart clove to my child, and I would fain hear of her.
Confessions of a Thug|Philip Meadows Taylor
A four-wheeler clove its way through the crowd surrounding the gates, and the sentries presented arms to it.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
The little steamer clove light green waters that were hardly rippled by the breeze.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
By their power they pushed the well aloft, they clove asunder the rock, however strong.
Sacred Books of the East|Various

British Dictionary definitions for clove (1 of 3)

clove¹

/ (kləʊv) /

noun

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

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

Word Origin for clove

C14: from Old French clou de girofle, literally: nail of clove, clou from Latin clāvus nail + girofle clove tree

British Dictionary definitions for clove (2 of 3)

clove²

/ (kləʊv) /

noun

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

Word Origin for clove

Old English clufu bulb; related to Old High German klovolouh garlic; see cleave 1

British Dictionary definitions for clove (3 of 3)

clove³

/ (kləʊv) /

verb

a past tense of cleave 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

clove

Origin of clove

Words nearby clove

Other definitions for clove (2 of 4)

Origin of clove

Other definitions for clove (3 of 4)

Other definitions for clove (4 of 4)

Origin of clove

Words related to clove

How to use clove in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clove (1 of 3)

Word Origin for clove

British Dictionary definitions for clove (2 of 3)

Word Origin for clove

British Dictionary definitions for clove (3 of 3)