From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcloveclove1 /kləʊv $ kloʊv/ noun [countable] 1 
HBPDFCone of the separate parts that form a garlic plant a clove of garlic2 HBPDFCa black spice (=something used to give a special taste to food) with a strong sweet smell
HBPDFCone of the separate parts that form a garlic plant a clove of garlic2 HBPDFCa black spice (=something used to give a special taste to food) with a strong sweet smellExamples from the Corpus
clove• Superb apple pie with sultanas and cloves, interspersed with crusty bread sandwiches of every description.• For a savory accompaniment, poach in stock with a few cloves to serve with ham, chicken or duck.• You could also drop mothballs or peeled garlic cloves or sprinkle hot pepper into the tunnels.• Scatter the 3 split garlic cloves, fennel, onion, pancetta, fennel seeds and the fennel leaves over the rabbit.• Crush 1 of the garlic cloves, add to processor, and puree mixture until smooth.• The familiar smell of the dental surgery comes from oil of cloves, a component of some dental cements.• Remove cloves, bay leaves and cinnamon sticks.• Push the smaller cloves of garlic into this cavity.clove of garlic• Place 6 cloves of garlic in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil.• Then a friend asks if you've just been chewing a clove of garlic.• Eat a clove of garlic in the bathroom in the guise of brushing your teeth.• Your server tends to the cooking, adding cloves of garlic and green onions, until the meat is perfectly tender.• Add a crushed clove of garlic but don't let it burn.• Push the smaller cloves of garlic into this cavity.cloveclove2 x-refa past tense of cleaveOrigin clove1 1. Old English clufu2. (1100-1200) Old French clou (de girofle) “nail of clove”, from Latin clavus “nail” 