trefoils
/ˈtref.ɔɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtriː ˌfɔɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtrē-ˌfȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce trefoil (audio) ˈtre- How to pronounce trefoil (audio)/ (ame, mw)
trefoils — noun
1. a small wild plant whose leaves are split into three rounded parts and whose flo
a small wild plant whose leaves are split into three rounded parts and whose flowers are small and grow in tight bunches, appearing in shades that include purple, white, yellow, or red, often found growing in grassy fields and along roadsides
Quinn noticed trefoils growing wild beside the old stone wall behind the farm.
often found in wild / grassy areas
Small yellow trefoils covered the grassy field after the spring rains arrived.
trefoils + colour + location
Salma pressed a dried trefoil into her notebook during the nature walk.
The children learned to identify trefoils by their three-parted leaves and tiny purple flowers.
- clover
larger, more commonly cultivated relative with rounder flower heads; often confused with trefoil in everyday speech
文法句型
trefoil + verb (singular)
trefoils + verb (plural)
用法筆記
Trefoils differ from clover (also called shamrock) in being smaller and typically not cultivated; in casual use the two names are sometimes swapped.
常見錯誤
2. a decorative pattern or shape formed by three curved lines that meet and overlap
a decorative pattern or shape formed by three curved lines that meet and overlap to create a circular design with three loops, used especially in stone carvings, church windows, and metalwork
The old church window had a beautiful trefoil carved into the stone frame.
trefoil + church / stone carving
Stefan traced the trefoil pattern in the cathedral floor with his finger.
The iron gate at the entrance was decorated with trefoils and other medieval designs.
Vinícius studied the trefoil design on the ancient manuscript border.
- trefoil arch
a specific architectural element, not a generic synonym for the shape
- three-lobed design
more descriptive and less technical; describes the same form in plainer language
文法句型
trefoil + noun (e.g. trefoil window)
carved + trefoil
用法筆記
This architectural sense is used mainly for Gothic and Romanesque ornament; the trefoil is a common motif in ecclesiastical stonework and stained glass.