Illustration of cloverleaf
plural cloverleafs
ˈklō-vər-ˌlēfs 
or cloverleaves
ˈklō-vər-ˌlēvz
or cloverleaves
ˈklō-vər-ˌlēvz
: an interchange between two major highways that allows traffic to change from one to the other without requiring any left turns or crossings and that from above resembles a 4-leaf clover
Examples of cloverleaf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2022
In barrel racing—which is widely considered rodeo’s slickest event, and also one of its most dangerous—riders steer their horses at lighting speeds in a cloverleaf pattern around barrels.
—Rose Minutaglio, ELLE, 12 Sep. 2022
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
The film’s signature image is that of its protagonist, Maria Wyeth (Tuesday Weld), driving along the highways of Greater Los Angeles in her bright-yellow Corvette, the arteries and cloverleaf intersections all helping create the impression of someone going around in circles.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloverleaf
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Adjective
Our small group ventures into three days’ worth of driving activities, which use a cloverleaf approach of individual journeys that loop back to the Amangiri at the end of the day.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2022
In barrel racing—which is widely considered rodeo’s slickest event, and also one of its most dangerous—riders steer their horses at lighting speeds in a cloverleaf pattern around barrels.
—Rose Minutaglio, ELLE, 12 Sep. 2022
Noun
Choices range from a tidy 350-square-foot room to the expansive Ultra Suite, which will set you back more than $1,500 for a night of high-rolling luxury overlooking the Tri-State Tollway cloverleaf interchange in East Hazel Crest.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
The film’s signature image is that of its protagonist, Maria Wyeth (Tuesday Weld), driving along the highways of Greater Los Angeles in her bright-yellow Corvette, the arteries and cloverleaf intersections all helping create the impression of someone going around in circles.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cloverleaf
Cite this Entry
“Cloverleaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloverleaf. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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