nutmeg
Americannoun
-
nutmegs
plural
-
the hard, aromatic seed of the fruit of an East Indian tree, Myristica fragrans, used in grated form as a spice.
-
the similar product of certain other trees of the same genus or other genera.
-
a tree bearing such seeds.
noun
-
an East Indian evergreen tree, Myristica fragrans, cultivated in the tropics for its hard aromatic seed: family Myristicaceae See also mace 2
-
the seed of this tree, used as a spice
-
any of several similar trees or their fruit
-
a greyish-brown colour
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
A batter laced with cinnamon, nutmeg, a punch of allspice.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 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 pie's filling consists of sliced rhubarb and strawberries cooked in granulated sugar, cornstarch, nutmeg, and a pinch of fine sea salt.
From Salon ● May 23, 2025
The nutmeg tree that Vellya Paapen hadn’t found.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
However, it's complex flavor does taste like the very best combination of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves, hence its all-inclusive labeling.
From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2022
He then nutmegs a second challenger before taking off and sliding past two more defenders and the goalkeeper.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2021
Oval Invincibles' Tom Curran nutmegs himself with a shot through his own legs against the Manchester Originals in the opening men's game of The Hundred.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2021
In contrast, Almirón is an ultimate team player who blends high-calibre nutmegs and talent‑laden first touches with serious elbow grease.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 23, 2019
He was grating nutmegs, cautiously sprinkling in cloves, and breaking up cinnamon bark.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
