~ 1
■ noun
1》 the dried flower bud of a tropical tree, used as an aromatic spice.
↘( oil of ~s ) aromatic analgesic oil extracted from ~s and used medicinally to relieve dental pain.
2》 the Indonesian tree from which ~s are obtained. [ Syzygium aromaticum (also called Eugenia caryophyllus ).]
3》 (also ~ pink or ~ gillyflower ) a ~-scented pink which is the original type from which the carnation and other double pinks have been bred. [ Dianthus caryophyllus .]
Origin
ME: from OFr. clou de girofle , lit. 'nail of gillyflower' (from its shape), gillyflower being orig. the name of the spice and later applied to the similarly scented pink.
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~ 2
■ noun any of the small bulbs making up a compound bulb of garlic, shallot, etc.
Origin
OE clufu , of Gmc origin, corresp. to the base of cleave 1 .
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~ 3
past of cleave 1 .