nutmeg

/ˈnʌtˌmɛɡ/
noun
  1. A hard, aromatic seed from a tropical tree, used as a spice in sweet and savory dishes.
    • She sprinkled a little nutmeg on top of the eggnog for extra flavor.
    • The recipe calls for freshly grated nutmeg rather than the pre-ground powder.
    • Nutmeg is often used in pumpkin pie and other fall desserts.
  2. The tropical evergreen tree that produces nutmeg seeds, native to Indonesia.
    • Farmers carefully harvest the fruit of the nutmeg tree to obtain the seed inside.
    • Nutmeg trees require a warm, humid environment to thrive.
    • The nutmeg tree can grow up to 60 feet tall in tropical climates.
Synonyms
verb
  1. To sprinkle or flavor with nutmeg spice.
    • She nutmegged the top of the latte with a light dusting of the spice.
    • The chef nutmegged the cream sauce to give it a warm, aromatic taste.
    • He always nutmegs his eggnog before serving it to guests.