cloverleaf

1 of 2

adjective

clo·ver·leaf ˈklō-vər-ˌlēf

Synonyms of cloverleaf

: resembling a clover leaf in shape

cloverleaf

2 of 2

noun

plural cloverleafs ˈklō-vər-ˌlēfs 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

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Adjective

Diverging diamond interchanges are designed to be safer and take up less space than cloverleaf designs. — Mary Wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, 11 June 2017 Fans will be permitted to park in the centerfield lot and will have access to, at a minimum, the cloverleaf fields on the northeast portion of the complex. — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2022

Noun

How precious are these cloverleaf rolls? — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026 Race around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern as fast as possible. — Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cloverleaf

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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cloverleaf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloverleaf. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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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

cloverleaf

adjective

noun

Illustration of cloverleaf

Examples of cloverleaf in a Sentence

Word History

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Kids Definition

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cloverleaf

adjective

noun

Illustration of cloverleaf

Examples of cloverleaf in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for cloverleaf

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on cloverleaf

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