Word Study
clove (root: cleave)
CIDE DICTIONARY
clove, imp.
Cleft. Spenser. [1913 Webster]
A cleft; a gap; a ravine; -- rarely used except as part of a proper name; as, Kaaterskill Clove; Stone Clove. [1913 Webster]
clove, n. [OE. clow, fr. F. clou nail, clou de girofle a clove, lit. nail of clove, fr. L. clavus nail, perh. akin to clavis key, E. clavicle. The clove was so called from its resemblance to a nail. So in D. kruidnagel clove, lit. herb-nail or spice-nail. Cf. Cloy.].
A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree (Eugenia aromatica syn. Caryophullus aromatica ), a native of the Molucca Isles. [1913 Webster]
clove, n. [AS. clufe an ear of corn, a clove of garlic; cf. cleófan to split, E. cleave.].
- One of the small bulbs developed in the axils of the scales of a large bulb, as in the case of garlic. [1913 Webster]"Developing, in the axils of its skales, new bulbs, of what gardeners call cloves." [1913 Webster]
- A weight. A clove of cheese is about eight pounds, of wool, about seven pounds. Halliwell. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
clove, n.
1 a a dried flower-bud of a tropical plant, Eugenia aromatica, used as a pungent aromatic spice. b this plant.
2 (in full clove gillyflower or clove pink) a clove-scented pink, Dianthus caryophyllus, the original of the carnation and other double pinks.
1 a a dried flower-bud of a tropical plant, Eugenia aromatica, used as a pungent aromatic spice. b this plant.
2 (in full clove gillyflower or clove pink) a clove-scented pink, Dianthus caryophyllus, the original of the carnation and other double pinks.
clove, n. any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.
clove, past of CLEAVE(1).
ROGET THESAURUS
clove
Interval
N interval, interspace, separation, break, gap, opening, hole, chasm, hiatus, caesura, interruption, interregnum, interstice, lacuna, cleft, mesh, crevice, chink, rime, creek, cranny, crack, chap, slit, fissure, scissure, rift, flaw, breach, rent, gash, cut, leak, dike, ha-ha, gorge, defile, ravine, canon, crevasse, abyss, abysm, gulf, inlet, frith, strait, gully, pass, furrow, abra, barranca, barranco, clove, gulch, notch, yawning gulf, hiatus maxime, hiatus valde deflendus, parenthesis, void, incompleteness, period, interim (time), with an interval, far between, breachy, rimose, rimulose, at intervals, longo intervallo.For further exploring for "clove" in Webster Dictionary Online