1. Spice from dried unopened flower bud of the clove tree; used whole or ground
   "We studded the ham with whole cloves before baking"
    
2. Aromatic flower bud of a clove tree; yields a spice
   "She studded the ham with cloves before baking"
    
3. Moderate sized very symmetrical red-flowered evergreen widely cultivated in the tropics for its flower buds which are source of cloves
   "The clove tree's aromatic buds were carefully harvested by hand";
   - clove tree, Syzygium aromaticum
    
4. One of the small bulblets that can be split off of the axis of a larger garlic bulb
   "He crushed two garlic cloves for the pasta sauce";
   - garlic clove

1. Separate or cut with a tool, such as a sharp instrument
   "cleave the bone";
   - split, rive [archaic]
    
2. Make by cutting into
   "The water is going to cleave a channel into the rock"
    
3. Come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
   "The dress cleaves to her body";
   - cling, adhere, stick, cohere

Derived forms: cloves

Type of: adjoin, contact, create, flower bud, garlic, make, meet, spice, spice tree, tear, touch

Part of: genus Syzygium, Syzygium

Encyclopedia: Clove