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clove1

Pronunciation: /kləʊv/

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Definition of clove

noun

1the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as an aromatic spice.
(oil of cloves) [mass noun] aromatic analgesic oil extracted from cloves and used medicinally to relieve dental pain.

2the Indonesian tree from which cloves are obtained.
- Syzygium aromaticum (also called Eugenia caryophyllus), family Myrtaceae

3 (also clove pink or clove gillyflower) a clove-scented pink which is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred.
- Dianthus caryophyllus, family Caryophyllaceae

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French clou de girofle, literally 'nail of gillyflower' (from its shape), gillyflower being originally the name of the spice and later applied to the similarly scented pink

clove in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of clove in the US English dictionary

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