nutmeg

USNUT-meg/ˈnʌt.mɛɡ/

Pluralnutmegs (some meanings)

8 meanings of nutmeg

1
noununcountable
Ground spice made from the dried seed of an evergreen tree, ready to use in cooking.
Like the cinnamon you shake onto toast.
She sprinkled a little nutmeg into the warm milk.
Add a pinch of nutmeg to the cake batter for extra flavor.
Note
2
nouncountable
A single hard seed used whole as a spice, often grated when you need it.
Like a small nut you scrape into powder.
He grated a whole nutmeg over the custard.
The jar held three nutmegs wrapped in cloth.
3
nouncountable or uncountable
An evergreen tree grown in warm regions for its spicy seeds.
Farmers on the island cultivate nutmeg for export.
A single nutmeg tree can produce spice for decades.
Note
4
nouncountable or uncountable
In sports, the trick of pushing the ball between an opponent's legs.
Like rolling a ball through a tunnel between someone's feet.
Her perfect nutmeg left the defender looking foolish.
The crowd roared at the cheeky nutmeg near the final whistle.
Note
5
verbtransitive
To get the ball past an opponent by knocking it between their legs.
Like rolling a ball through a doorway between someone's feet.
She nutmegged the defender and sprinted clear.
He tried to nutmeg the goalkeeper during practice.
Note
6
verbtransitive
To add nutmeg to food or drink to give it flavor.
Like adding a sprinkle of spice to make food taste warmer.
Grandma always nutmegs the eggnog at Christmas.
Be sure to nutmeg the sauce before you serve it.
7
nouncountable or uncountable
A grayish-brown color, similar to ground nutmeg.
Like the color of milky coffee or light wood.
She painted the bedroom walls a soft nutmeg.
The new couch came in a warm nutmeg that matched the floor.
8
nouncountable or uncountable
A small moth of the Northern Hemisphere whose caterpillars feed on plants.
A nutmeg fluttered against the lit window all evening.
Gardeners sometimes find nutmeg caterpillars on their beet leaves.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English notemege, part of a translation of Medieval Latin nux muscata, meaning "musky nut."