trifoliate

American  

[trahy-foh-lee-it, -eyt] / traɪˈfoʊ li ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

Sometimes trifoliated

adjective

1. having three leaflets, lobes, or foils; trefoil.

2. Botany. trifoliolate.

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trifoliate British  

/ traɪˈfəʊlɪɪt, -ˌeɪt /

adjective

1. having three leaves, leaflike parts, or (of a compound leaf) leaflets

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Etymology

Origin of trifoliate

First recorded in 1690–1700; tri- + foliate

Example Sentences

The researchers posit that true Citrus species, such as mandarins and trifoliate oranges, first evolved in south-central China around eight million years ago.

From Scientific American • Oct. 11, 2023

Amid the trunks of the trees grew elder shrubs, and snake-berries, and the elvish trifoliate plants of the purple and the painted trillium.

From Earth's Enigmas A Volume of Stories by Roberts, Charles George Douglas, Sir

Some day we may have good trifoliate orange hybrids in Connecticut if the Buckley hickory, Stuart pecan, Arizona walnut and imbricated pine grow here.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, report of the proceedings at the eighth annual meeting Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Botanical Description.—A shrub 15–20° high with compound trifoliate leaves with long petioles; leaflets lanceolate, acuminate, smooth, dark green.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers

Mr. Webber sent some valuable trifoliate hybrids to Merribrooke.

From Northern Nut Growers Association, report of the proceedings at the eighth annual meeting Stamford, Connecticut, September 5 and 6, 1917 by Northern Nut Growers Association