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trefoil
tre·foil / ˈtrēˌfoil; ˈtrefˌoil/ • n. a small plant (genera Trifolium and Lotus) of the pea family with yellow flowers and three-lobed cloverlike leaves. ∎ a similar or related plant with three-lobed leaves. ∎ an ornamental design of three rounded lobes like a clover leaf, used typically in architectural tracery. ∎ a thing having three parts; a set of three: a trefoil of parachutes. ∎ [as adj.] denoting something shaped in the form of a trefoil leaf: trefoil windows. DERIVATIVES: tre·foiled adj. |
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"trefoil." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "trefoil." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-trefoil.html "trefoil." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
trefoil [O.Fr.,=three-leaf], in botany, name for several plants, chiefly of the pulse family, having trifoliate leaves. Best known of the trefoils is clover. The bird's-foot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ) is an Old World forage plant and weed that has been naturalized in North America; the prairie trefoil ( L. americanus ) is a related native American plant. The shrubby trefoil is the hop tree. Tick trefoil is a name for the tickseed, or beggarweed . |
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"trefoil." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "trefoil." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-trefoil.html "trefoil." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
trefoil Any of numerous plants, such as clover, with leaves divided into three parts. Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is used as hay and forage. Family Fabaceae/Leguminosae.
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"trefoil." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "trefoil." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-trefoil.html "trefoil." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
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T. F. HOAD. "trefoil." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "trefoil." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-trefoil.html T. F. HOAD. "trefoil." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
trefoil an ornamental design of three rounded lobes like a clover leaf, used typically in architectural tracery.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "trefoil." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "trefoil." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-trefoil.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "trefoil." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
trefoil. See foil.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "trefoil." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES STEVENS CURL. "trefoil." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-trefoil.html JAMES STEVENS CURL. "trefoil." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O1-trefoil.html |
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trefoil
trefoil
•boil, Boyle, broil, coil, Dáil, Doyle, embroil, Fianna Fáil, foil, Hoyle, moil, noil, oil, roil, Royle, soil, spoil, toil, voile
•parboil • trefoil • jetfoil • airfoil
•cinquefoil • milfoil • tinfoil • multifoil • aerofoil • hydrofoil
•counterfoil • gargoyle • turmoil
•charbroil • topsoil • subsoil
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"trefoil." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "trefoil." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-trefoil.html "trefoil." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-trefoil.html |
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