# clove

/ˈkɫoʊv/ (US) · /klˈəʊv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clove
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. spice

noun · CEFR B2

a small, dried flower bud from a tropical tree, used to add a strong, sweet flavour to food.

For teachers: the dried, unexpanded flower bud of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, used as a pungent aromatic spice.

- She added a single clove to the apple pie to give it a warm, spicy scent.
- The recipe calls for whole cloves to be simmered in the mulled wine, though they should be removed before serving to avoid their intense bitterness.

### 2. garlic segment

noun · CEFR B2

one of the small, separate sections that make up a whole bulb of garlic.

For teachers: one of the small bulbs or segments that form a larger compound bulb, most commonly associated with garlic.

- The recipe says to crush two cloves of garlic and fry them in oil.
- After peeling each individual clove, he minced them finely to ensure the garlic flavour was evenly distributed throughout the marinade.

### 4. narrow valley

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Dialect

a narrow valley with very steep sides.

For teachers: a narrow, steep-sided valley or ravine.

- The hikers followed the stream deep into the clove between the two mountains.
- Kaaterskill Clove in the Catskill Mountains has long been a favourite subject for landscape painters due to its dramatic cliffs and waterfalls.

## Examples

- I put a few cloves in the pot of soup.
- The chef added several whole cloves to the marinade to give the meat a warm, spicy aroma.
- While the bulb is the most recognizable part of the plant, the dried flower bud, known as a clove, is the primary source of the spice's intense flavor and fragrance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.