cloverleaf

1 of 2

adjective

clo·​ver·​leaf ˈklō-vər-ˌlēf How to pronounce cloverleaf (audio)
: resembling a clover leaf in shape

cloverleaf

2 of 2

noun

plural cloverleafs ˈklō-vər-ˌlēfs How to pronounce cloverleaf (audio) or cloverleaves ˈklō-vər-ˌlēvz How to pronounce cloverleaf (audio)
: 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

Illustration of cloverleaf

Illustration of cloverleaf

Examples of cloverleaf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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
One of those projects is the Interstate 75 interchange at Fruitville Road in Bradenton, which will be transformed from a traditional cloverleaf configuration into a diverging diamond design. Steve Wilson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Sep. 2024 State of play: The department unveiled plans last year to remove one of the cloverleaf exchanges and add two flyover bridges, like the Urban Loop in Urbandale. Jason Clayworth, Axios, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cloverleaf 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cloverleaf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1884, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1931, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cloverleaf was circa 1884

Dictionary Entries Near cloverleaf

Cite this Entry

“Cloverleaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloverleaf. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

cloverleaf

noun
clo·​ver·​leaf
-ˌlēf
plural cloverleafs
-ˌlēfs
or cloverleaves
-ˌlēvz
: a road plan that resembles a four-leaf clover in shape and is used for passing one highway over another and turning traffic onto connecting roadways which branch only to the right and lead around in a circle to enter the other highway from the right

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