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cloves
/kloʊvz/
dried flower buds used as spice
She added a few cloves to the mulled wine for extra flavor.
The example shows cloves used as a spice in cooking.
technical
Dried, unopened flower buds of the clove tree used as a spice.
Ground cloves are a key ingredient in pumpkin pie spice.
Cloves are ground and used in spice blends for baking.
Cloves are often used whole or ground in both sweet and savory dishes.
botanical
The dried flower bud of the clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum.
Cloves are harvested by hand when the buds turn from green to pink.
The harvesting process of cloves involves picking buds at the right color stage.
Cloves are native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia.
Collocations
whole clovesentire dried flower buds used as spiceground clovescloves that have been dried and powderedclove oilessential oil extracted from cloves
Pro Tip
Storage Tip
Store cloves in an airtight container away from light to preserve their flavor. They can last up to a year when stored properly.
Gold Rule
Moderation in Use
Cloves have a strong, pungent flavor. Start with a small amount and adjust to taste to avoid overpowering your dish.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'clove', from Old English 'clufu', ultimately from Proto-Germanic '*klubō' (sphere, clump), related to 'clump' and 'club'. The spice sense derives from the shape of the dried bud resembling a nail or clove.
Usage Notes
Cloves are strong and aromatic; use sparingly in cooking. They are commonly paired with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in spice blends.
Word Breakdown
clove
the dried flower bud
root-s
plural marker
suffixEnglish Dictionary