clove

¹

[ klohv ]

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.

clove

²

[ klohv ]

noun

, Botany.

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

clove

³

[ klohv ]

verb

1. a simple past tense of cleave ².

clove

⁴

[ klohv ]

noun

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

clove

¹

/ kləʊv /

verb

1. a past tense of cleave 1

clove

²

/ 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

clove

³

/ kləʊv /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

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”; 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 clove³

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; clove ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of clove¹

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

Origin of clove²

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

Example Sentences

A couple cloves of garlic thrown into the mix can work wonders.

From 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.

From Popular-Science

You just roll the cloves inside, then tip them out all peeled.

From Popular-Science

Let the garlic cool, then mince the cloves and add them to the mayonnaise mixture.

From Outside Online

Slicing or crushing a clove of garlic triggers chemical reactions that cause new sulphurous aroma molecules to form.

From Popular-Science

A single meal could include clove, cumin, jalapeños, Madeira, sweet potatoes, and whipped heavy cream.

From The Daily Beast

Pour the glaze over the clove-studded ham so all of the scored fat is covered.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

The clove-tree is somewhat smaller, and cannot boast of such luxuriant foliage, or such fine large leaves as the nutmeg-tree.

From Project Gutenberg

I have sought you despite of danger—for my heart clove to my child, and I would fain hear of her.

From Project Gutenberg

A four-wheeler clove its way through the crowd surrounding the gates, and the sentries presented arms to it.

From Project Gutenberg

The little steamer clove light green waters that were hardly rippled by the breeze.

From Project Gutenberg

By their power they pushed the well aloft, they clove asunder the rock, however strong.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chasm
• crack
• cut
• difference
• disagreement
• disparity
• divergence
• divide
• division
• hole
• inconsistency
• rift
• void