trefoil

[ tree-foil, tref-oil ]
/ ˈtri fɔɪl, ˈtrɛf ɔɪl /

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

treenware, treetop, treeware, tref, treflé, trefoil, trefoil arch, trefoil knot, trehala, trehalose, treillage
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for trefoil

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, adjective

Word 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012