noun
clove
klohv
Clove (noun) means a strong, aromatic spice made from the dried flower bud of the clove tree. Example: “She added a few cloves to the mulled wine for warmth and spice.”
noun
1
A strong, aromatic spice made from the dried flower bud of the clove tree.
"She added a few cloves to the mulled wine for warmth and spice."
2
One of the small individual segments that make up a bulb, such as garlic.
"The recipe calls for two cloves of garlic, finely minced."
How to use clove
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the spice itself, or a single segment of a garlic bulb.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "clove" as the past tense of "cleave" (an older, less common usage) — modern readers will almost always mean the spice or the garlic segment.
Common pairings
clove of garlic
ground cloves
oil of clove
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like clove.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- cloves
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She added a few _____ to the mulled wine for warmth and spice.
Etymology
From Old French clou de girofle, literally "nail of clove" — named for the spice's nail-like shape. Related to Latin clavus, "nail."
Rhymes for clove
See all rhymes for clove →Frequently asked questions
What does “clove” mean?
The word “clove” means a strong, aromatic spice made from the dried flower bud of the clove tree. In plain terms, either the spice itself, or a single segment of a garlic bulb.
How do you pronounce “clove”?
“Clove” is pronounced klohv (/kloʊv/ in IPA).
How do you use “clove” in a sentence?
Here is “clove” used in a sentence: “She added a few cloves to the mulled wine for warmth and spice.”
What part of speech is “clove”?
“Clove” is a noun.
Where does the word “clove” come from?
The word “clove” comes from Latin. From Old French clou de girofle, literally "nail of clove" — named for the spice's nail-like shape. Related to Latin clavus, "nail.".
How many meanings does “clove” have?
“Clove” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, aromatic spice made from the dried flower bud of the clove tree.
