trefoil

views updated May 18 2018

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.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

trefoil

views updated May 11 2018

trefoil plant of the genus Trifolium, having triple leaves. XIV. ME. treyfoyle, trifoile — AN. trifoil- L. trifolium, f. TRI- + folium leaf, FOIL2.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

trefoil

views updated May 17 2018

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.

World Encyclopedia

trefoil

views updated May 23 2018

trefoil. See foil.

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture JAMES STEVENS CURL

trefoil

views updated May 14 2018

trefoil an ornamental design of three rounded lobes like a clover leaf, used typically in architectural tracery.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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