cloverleaf

[ kloh-ver-leef ]

noun

, plural clo·ver·leafs, clo·ver·leaves.

1. a road arrangement, resembling a four-leaf clover in form, for permitting easy traffic movement between two intersecting high-speed highways. One highway passes over the other, and both are joined by a system of curved feeder roads permitting vehicles to enter and leave the highways.

adjective

1. shaped like or resembling a leaf or leaves of clover.

cloverleaf

/ ˈkləʊvəˌliːf /

noun

1. an arrangement of connecting roads, resembling a four-leaf clover in form, that joins two intersecting main roads
2. modifier in the shape or pattern of a leaf of clover

Other Words From

• clover·leafed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloverleaf¹

First recorded in 1930–35; clover + leaf

Example Sentences

You can’t just go tearing down highways and cloverleafs to make way for a light-rail network, at least not without great expense and complication.

From Freakonomics

It’s not just in highway medians, but also those cloverleaf interchanges.

From Freakonomics

Dark slowed and entered the cloverleaf that took him onto the bypass expressway.

From Project Gutenberg

The clubs of playing-cards are also no doubt an imitation of the cloverleaf.

From Project Gutenberg

Every cloverleaf sparkled and the leaves of wheat bristled like tiny spears.

From Project Gutenberg

Immediately, he put the groundcar in drive and whipped out of the cloverleaf under full acceleration.

From Project Gutenberg

From the archways some three dozen slidewalks curved out, tangenting off each other in a bewildering multiple cloverleaf.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bridge
• crossroad
• intersection
• junction
• overpass
• passage