clove
UK: kləʊv | US: kloʊv
n. the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a spice
n. a segment of a compound bulb, such as garlic
n. (archaic) a cleft or split
The word "clove" traces back to Old English clufu, meaning "a split or cleft," reflecting its original association with division (e.g., garlic cloves splitting apart). The spice sense arose via Old French clou de girofle ("nail of clove"), likening the bud's shape to a small nail (from Latin clavus, "nail"). Over time, the word narrowed to its current meanings while retaining the core idea of separation.
She added a clove of garlic to the soup for extra flavor.
Clove oil is often used in dental care for its antiseptic properties.
The recipe calls for two whole cloves, crushed.
He peeled a clove from the garlic bulb.
(Archaic) The stone was cleft into cloven fragments.