cloves
n. plural-onlyn. the dried flower buds of a tropical tree used as a strong, sweet spice in cooking. You can use them whole or as a powder to flavor food like ham or apple pie.
n. the aromatic dried flower buds of the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum, used as a spice in various culinary traditions. Often used whole in infusions or ground into a fine powder for baking and spice blends.
She added a few whole cloves to the hot apple juice.
The recipe calls for three whole cloves to be pushed into the onion before it is added to the soup.
The distinct aroma of cloves is primarily due to the presence of eugenol, a compound that also provides the spice with its mild numbing properties.
Usually appears in the plural form when referring to the spice; the singular 'clove' is also used for a single segment of a garlic bulb.