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Glite Dictionary
clove tree

clove tree

5.8
An evergreen tropical tree that makes small brown flower buds used as a spice and in medicine
  • noun
  • /kloʊv tri/
translation icon : clavero
  • A mature clove tree can provide thousands of buds each harvest season.

Examples

  • The farmers planted a new clove tree to boost their spice production.

  • The clove tree is native to Indonesia.

  • Indonesia is one of the largest producers of the clove tree in the world.

  • Many clove trees grow in tropical regions.

  • A mature clove tree can provide thousands of buds each harvest season.

  • The farmers planted a new clove tree to boost their spice production.

  • Indonesia is one of the largest producers of clove trees in the world.

Synonyms

clove
vsclove tree
1 4.9

A tropical evergreen tree whose dried flower buds make the spice

also includes medicinal use as well as culinary use
Eugenia caryophyllatum
vsclove tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical evergreen tree with red flowers that is grown for its dried flower buds called cloves

focuses on the buds as harvested for cooking and medical use
Syzygium aromaticum
vsclove tree
  • Specialized
8.4

Tropical tree grown for its scented flower buds called cloves

highlights the buds' use in cooking and medicine rather than scent
Eugenia aromaticum
vsclove tree
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical evergreen tree grown for its dried flower buds that are used as cloves

focuses on harvesting and their use in cooking and medicine rather than drying

Surface Forms

clove tree singular
clove trees plural

Morphology

clove + tree

The meaning 'a tree that yields clove buds' is directly and compositionally derived from combining 'clove' (the spice or the clove-yielding plant) with 'tree' (a tall perennial plant). The noun+tree compound pattern is common and cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Clove tree gets its name from the small dried flower buds called cloves. One popular story says the buds look like tiny 'nails', so a clove tree is simply the tree that makes those nail-shaped buds, which is why the name refers to the spice used in cooking and medicine.