: 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
Phrases
in clover or less commonly in the clover
: in prosperity or in pleasant circumstances
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebIn this space, designer Mark Lavender of M. Lavender Interiors used a glossy version of Benjamin Moore's Black Forest Green and paired it with a clover pattern from Scalamandré on the mirrored wall. Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 25 July 2022 Adele was also seen wearing a stack of three four-leaf clover Van Cleef & Arpels bracelets, worth $4,000 each, with a set of rings on the fourth finger of her left hand. Amanda Taylor, PEOPLE.com, 24 July 2022 One more historically lucky discovery was a four-leaf clover pressed in a book from the 1800s. Erik S. Hanley, Journal Sentinel, 20 June 2022 Cook also showed that clover is the most resilient of grass substitutes.oregonlive, 18 July 2022 Alternatives to lawns include ornamental grasses, native plants and trees, various hardscapes such as pathways or gravel, and ground cover, such as clover, that doesn't require frequent mowing and watering. Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2022 Besides about 500 straw hats, other items have sold out, such as all the Christmas ornaments, some 280 inflatable bouncy balls used mainly by kids for autographs, about 100 bronze clover ball markers, and around 1,500 small stuffed squirrels. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 18 June 2022 The ingredients are worth it, too: Myristoyl Pentapeptide-17 makes an appearance, alongside clover flower extract and vitamin B5. Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 June 2022 Buoyant but slightly disjointed acidity, red fruit and clover midpalate, some orange citrus on the finish. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English clāfre; akin to Old High German klēo clover
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of clover was before the 12th century