clover

[ kloh-ver ]

noun

, plural clo·vers, (especially collectively) clo·ver.

1. any of various plants of the genus Trifolium, of the legume family, having trifoliolate leaves and dense flower heads, many species of which, as T. pratense, are cultivated as forage plants.
2. any of various plants of allied genera, as melilot.

clover

/ ˈkləʊvə /

noun

1. any plant of the leguminous genus Trifolium, having trifoliate leaves and dense flower heads. Many species, such as red clover, white clover, and alsike, are grown as forage plants
2. any of various similar or related plants
3. See melilot
   sweet clover
   sweet clover another name for melilot
4. See alfilaria
   pin clover
   pin clover another name for alfilaria
5. in clover informal.
   in clover in a state of ease or luxury

Other Words From

• clovered adjective
• clover·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of clover¹

before 900; Middle English clovere, Old English clāfre; akin to German Klee

Word History and Origins

Origin of clover¹

Old English clāfre; related to Old High German klēo, Middle Low German klēver, Dutch klāver

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in clover, enjoying luxury or comfort; wealthy or well-off:

   They struggled to make their fortune, and now they're in clover.

More idioms and phrases containing clover

see like pigs in clover .

Example Sentences

In native prairies, dozens of grass species intermingled with clover, wildflowers, lichens and shrubs, their roots extending as far as 15 feet into the ground.

From Washington Post

Tufts of chicory, alfalfa and clover are interspersed with the tall stands of Kernza.

From Washington Post

Traditional grass lawns don’t provide flowers for pollinators, if anything, companies encourage landscapers to weed for clovers or to spray chemicals for “weeds” that may crop up.

From Popular-Science

Clarke also says that sustainable lawns that are mixed with plants like clover are more resistant to droughts.

From Popular-Science

After harvesting corn last fall, Hill immediately planted rye, turnips and clover in his fields.

From Washington Post

Clover, Mia, Addison, and Jane have developed that typical lasting friendship that comes from rooming together freshman year.

From The Daily Beast

Sunset Park, his newest clover, might be "the novel that brings him a broader readership," promises one early review.

From The Daily Beast

They grew up as crop and dairy farmers in Iowa, tending corn, soy, alfalfa, hay, oats and clover.

From The Daily Beast

Clover denies charges that eco-documentaries like End of the Line may overstate or exaggerate their case to raise awareness.

From The Daily Beast

Clover, a longstanding environment campaigner, denies that this support may be a mere flash in the (eco) pan.

From The Daily Beast

Occasionally the nucleus is irregular in shape, "clover-leaf" forms being not infrequent.

From Project Gutenberg

And being very fond of clover blossoms, Billy hated to spend his time digging.

From Project Gutenberg

"I couldn't pay anybody anything—unless it was clover-tops," he explained.

From Project Gutenberg

For the same reason, his clover cultivation becomes as useless.

From Project Gutenberg

The congregation reminds me of a clover field, with the butterflies hovering over its gaily-colored, bobbing heads.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accomplishment
• achievement
• advance
• benefit
• boom
• fame
• gain
• happiness
• profit
• progress
• prosperity
• realization
• triumph
• victory
• win