clove¹ / klōv/ • n. 1. the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as a pungent aromatic spice. ∎  (oil of cloves) aromatic analgesic oil extracted from these buds and used medicinally, esp. for dental pain. 2. the Indonesian tree (Syzygium aromaticum, or Eugenia caryophyllus) of the myrtle family from which these buds are obtained. 3. (also clove pink) a clove-scented pink (Dianthus caryophyllus) that is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred.clove² • n. any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.clove³ • past of cleave¹ .

clove 2 dried flower-bud of tropical myrtle. XIV. orig. clow (of) gilofer — (O)F. clou de girofle (gilofre) ‘nail of clove-tree’, so called from its shape; see GILLYFLOWER. The change from clow to clove is difficult to account for.

clove 1 one of the divisions of the bulb of garlic, etc. OE. clufu, corr. to the first element of OS. cluflōk ‘clove-leek’, garlic, OHG. klobolouch (G. knoblauch), f. weak grade of Gmc. *kleub- (see CLEAVE 1).

clove Tall, aromatic, evergreen tree native to the Moluccan Islands. The small purple flowers appear in clusters; the dried flower buds are widely used in cookery. Height: to 12m (40ft). Family Myrtaceae; species Syzygium aromaticum.

clove The dried aromatic flower buds of Caryophyllus aromaticus; mother of clove is the ripened fruit, which is inferior in flavour. Used as a flavour in meat products and baked goods.