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trefoil
[ tree-foil, tref-oil ]
/ ˈtri fɔɪl, ˈtrɛf ɔɪl /
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noun
any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Trifolium, of the legume family, having usually digitate leaves of three leaflets and reddish, purple, yellow, or white flower heads, comprising the common clovers.
any of various similar plants.
Architecture. an ornament composed of three lobes, divided by cusps, radiating from a common center.
such an ornamental figure used by the Girl Scouts as its official emblem.
adjective
of, relating to, or shaped like a trefoil.
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Origin of trefoil
1350–1400; Middle English <Anglo-French trifoil<Latin trifolium triple leaf, the three-leaved plant, clover, equivalent to tri-tri- + folium leaf
Words nearby trefoil
treetop, treeware, tree yucca, tref, treflé, trefoil, trefoil arch, trefoil knot, trehala, trehalose, treillage
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use trefoil in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for trefoil
trefoil
/ (ˈtrɛfɔɪl) /
noun
any of numerous leguminous plants of the temperate genus Trifolium, having leaves divided into three leaflets and dense heads of small white, yellow, red, or purple flowers
any of various related plants having leaves divided into three leaflets, such as bird's-foot trefoil
a leaf having three leaflets
architect an ornament in the form of three arcs arranged in a circle
Derived forms of trefoil
trefoiled, adjectiveWord Origin for trefoil
C14: from Anglo-French trifoil, from Latin trifolium three-leaved herb, from tri- + folium leaf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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