clover

noun

clo·ver | \ ˈklō-vər

Definition of clover

1 : any of a genus (Trifolium) of low leguminous herbs having trifoliolate leaves and flowers in dense heads and including many that are valuable for forage and attractive to bees

2 : any of various related plants (as of the genera Melilotus, Lespedeza, or Medicago) of the legume family

in clover or less commonly in the clover

: in prosperity or in pleasant circumstances

Examples of clover in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The remains of a Mulberry harbor — a kind of temporary, portable harbor that was so vital to the Allied invasion — are clearly visible from nearby cliffs, covered with daisies and purple clover. — NBC News, "As the world marks D-Day 75 years on, post-war alliance is in doubt," 4 June 2019 Statistically getting four shades of white to match is about as probable as picking a four leaf clover—not likely to happen outside of a fairy tale. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Just Give In to Jeff Goldblum’s Winter White Sundance Vision," 30 Jan. 2019 Whatever the color, clover fixes nitrogen and helps to build rich soils. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "Everything You Need To Know About Planting Cover Crops For A Healthy Garden," 22 Aug. 2017 The savory chicken liver toast was a fine way to kick off a meal punctuated with roasted Rohan duck breast, served with brie, sauteed plums, ginger, clover and honey jus. — Ed Condran, courant.com, "Philadelphia Emerges As Colorful Travel Destination," 24 June 2018 What’s more, all species of clover belong to the legume family and fix life-sustaining nitrogen in the soil. — Molly Marquand, Good Housekeeping, "8 Weeds You Should Actually Let Grow In Your Yard," 28 July 2016 Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water, and brush on top and edges of clover. — Marian Cooper Cairns, Country Living, "Shamrock Soda Bread," 12 Feb. 2015 The researchers deploy more than a dozen clover traps and fyke nets around McDermott and check them daily. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Can the walleye population rebound in McDermott Lake if bass and panfish are reduced?," 30 June 2018 Many plants are equally dependent on microbes: peas, clover, soy, and beans have nodules on their roots that host bacteria, fixing nitrogen from the air in the plant. — Jason Pontin, WIRED, "The 19th-Century Crank Who Tried to Tell Us About the Microbiome," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clover.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near clover

clover-and-alfalfa disease

clover aphid

clover broom

Statistics for clover

Last Updated

17 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for clover

The first known use of clover was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for clover

clover

noun

English Language Learners Definition of clover

: a small plant that has usually three leaves on each stem and that usually has round flowers that are white, red, or purple

See the full definition for clover in the English Language Learners Dictionary

clover

noun

clo·ver | \ ˈklō-vər

Kids Definition of clover

: a small plant that has leaves with three leaflets and usually roundish red, white, yellow, or purple flower heads and is sometimes grown for hay or pasture