cloche

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noun \ ˈklōsh \

Definition of cloche

1 :a bell- or dome-shaped cover:

a :a glass or plastic cover used to protect small outdoor plants from frost; also :a similar cover used indoors to display or protect ornamental objects

b :a cover (as of metal or ceramic) placed over food during preparation or serving

2 :a woman's close-fitting hat usually with deep rounded crown and narrow brim

cloche was our Word of the Day on 12/04/2012. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of cloche from the Web

And finally, there was a glittery gold cloche-style hat that was Katherine Hepburn meets disco queen, in the best of ways.

— sophia panych, Allure, "Models Walked the Maison Margiela Couture Show With Shampoo in Their Hair," 5 July 2017
At the Quebec pavilion, the attendants wore bulbous cloches, while the Brits toted Union Jack handbags; newly independent African nations went for more traditional designs and wax fabrics.

— jason farago, New York Times, "Expo 2017: Utopia, Rebooted," 22 June 2017
For floral centerpieces, incorporate obscurity, like glass cloches and fruit, for impact rather than building out too many grandiose bloom moments.

— carrie goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "How to Create the Perfect Bridal Tablescape For Any Style—with Flowers," 8 June 2017
A polka dot platter style saucer was followed by a 1920s inspired cloche.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Style And Substance At Sassy Chapeau Hat Show," 30 May 2017
Another interesting option is a cloche baker ($52), basically a combination of the baking stone with the dutch oven.

— erin biba, WIRED, "The Gear You Need to Bake the Hippest Homemade Bread Ever," 18 Sep. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cloche.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Does the Meaning of cloche ring a bell?

The word cloche refers to very different things but the connection between them is apparent in the word's meaning: cloche is French for "bell," and both the gardening cloche and the hat cloche are typically shaped like the archetypal bell. The gourmands among you may be aware of another kind of cloche as well. Covered in our unabridged dictionary, Webster's Third New International, cloche also refers to a bell-shaped cover placed over food in cooking or serving. The French word cloche comes from Medieval Latin clocca, which is also the source of the words "cloak" and "clock."