nutmegs

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of nutmeg.

   Whole nutmegs keep their flavor far longer than the ready-ground powder.

   The merchant weighed out the nutmegs by the sackful for the bakers.

   Note

   Only the countable meanings can take this plural: whole seeds, the evergreen trees that bear them, the small moth, a gray-brown shade, or the trick of playing the ball between an opponent's legs. The ground spice is a mass noun and stays singular. A recipe calls for a pinch of nutmeg, never of nutmegs, so in the kitchen the plural points to whole seeds rather than powder.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of nutmeg.

   The young winger nutmegs defenders with surprising ease.

   Whenever she nutmegs a marker, the bench leaps to its feet.

   Note

   An -s form spelled exactly like the noun plural, so the spelling alone never tells you which word you are reading. As a verb it is transitive in both its meanings. A cook nutmegs a custard by flavoring it, and a player nutmegs an opponent by playing the ball between their legs. If the object is a dish, it is the kitchen. If the object is a person, it is the game.

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