Cloche Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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cloche
[kloʊʃ ]
Definitions
cooking tool
A cloche is a bell-shaped cover used in cooking to create a warm, humid environment for food. It helps to keep heat and moisture around the food, which can enhance cooking techniques and improve flavors. Many chefs use a cloche to trap steam and help with the even cooking of various dishes. This tool is especially popular in baking and for covering roasted vegetables.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The chef placed a cloche over the dish to retain the moisture.
- Using a cloche can significantly improve the tenderness of your meat.
- I always use a cloche when roasting my vegetables for maximum flavor.
gardening tool
A cloche is also a transparent cover, often made of glass or plastic, used in gardening to protect plants from cold weather and pests. These protective structures help to create a microclimate that can accelerate growth and extend the growing season for seedlings and young plants. Gardeners typically place a cloche over individual plants to shield them from harsh elements while allowing sunlight to penetrate.
Synonyms
mini greenhouse, plant cover, protective dome.
Examples of usage
- She used a cloche to protect her seedlings from frost.
- The gardener placed a cloche over the delicate flowers to keep them safe.
- Cloche gardening can help you grow plants earlier in the spring.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Gardening Techniques
- Using a cloche allows gardeners to extend the growing season by providing warmth to the plants.
- Cloche covers can be made of glass, plastic, or even fabric, adapting to different climates.
- Though commonly used for plants, cloques can also protect delicate seedlings from harsh conditions like frost.
Fashion
- In fashion, 'cloche' refers to a style of women's hat that was popular in the 1920s, resembling the bell shape.
- The cloche hat was often worn low on the forehead, emphasizing a woman's face and hairstyle.
- Famous figures like Coco Chanel contributed to its popularity, making it a symbol of the flapper era.
Cultural References
- Cloches are often featured in gardening shows and magazines, symbolizing traditional and sustainable gardening.
- In literature, cloches sometimes represent protection and nurturing, connecting to themes of growth and care.
- The cloche is seen in depictions of formal gardens, reminding viewers of the beauty and artistry in horticulture.
Environmental Impact
- Using a cloche can reduce the need for chemical frost protection, aligning with organic gardening practices.
- They help in conserving soil moisture, promoting better plant health and reducing water usage.
- With climate change effects, clo access to plants has become a practical method for adapting traditional gardening.
Origin of 'cloche'
Main points about word origin
- The word 'cloche' comes from the French word for 'bell', referring to the bell shape of the cover.
- Historically, the cloche was first used in 19th-century France for both gardening and fashion.
- In English, it started being used in the gardening context around the 1830s.
The word 'cloche' comes from the French word for 'bell' due to its bell-like shape. It has been used in culinary contexts since at least the early 19th century, with the gardening variant appearing similarly around the same time. Originally, the cloche was designed for serving meals, often used in fine dining settings to create an element of surprise when unveiling a dish. Over time, its versatility expanded to gardening, where it serves as an essential tool for extending the growing season and protecting delicate plants from adverse weather. The use of cloches in both contexts highlights the adaptability of this design, making it a staple in both kitchens and gardens.