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Glite Dictionary
lesser yellow trefoil

lesser yellow trefoil

9.9
A clover with yellow flowers that grows in Ireland and is often seen as the real shamrock
  • noun
  • Irish
translation icon : trébol amarillo menor
  • Some botanists believe the lesser yellow trefoil is the true Irish shamrock.

Examples

  • The lesser yellow trefoil blooms with clusters of yellow flowers each spring.

  • You can spot lesser yellow trefoil in meadows throughout Ireland.

  • The lesser yellow trefoil is often found in Irish fields.

  • Did you know that the lesser yellow trefoil is a symbol of Ireland?

  • Some botanists believe the lesser yellow trefoil is the true Irish shamrock.

  • The lesser yellow trefoil blooms with clusters of yellow flowers each spring.

  • You can spot lesser yellow trefoil in meadows throughout Ireland.

Synonyms

Trifolium dubium
vslesser yellow trefoil
  • Specialized
9.9

A small clover plant with yellow flowers often used as the Irish shamrock

is the common name referring to the same plant rather than the formal label
hop clover
vslesser yellow trefoil
9.2

A low plant with small yellow flowers that grows close to the ground

is the Ireland-native plant more widely regarded as the true shamrock
yellow trefoil
vslesser yellow trefoil
9.8

A low-growing plant with small yellow flowers and curved black seed pods

is the Ireland-native plant regarded as the original shamrock rather than that introduced species

Surface Forms

lesser yellow trefoil singular
lesser yellow trefoils plural

Morphology

lesser + yellow + trefoil

The phrase is fully compositional: 'lesser' (smaller/less significant) + 'yellow' (color) + 'trefoil' (a clover-like, three-leaved plant) yields the straightforward idea of a smaller yellow clover. While the note about being the 'true/original shamrock' is a cultural/botanical detail, the basic referent is directly derivable from the constituents and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the component words.

Etymology

Lesser yellow trefoil is a small clover with bright yellow flowers and three small leaves, and the word trefoil means 'three leaves'. One popular idea says this little yellow clover was the original 'shamrock' of Ireland, so calling it the true shamrock links the plant's look to the old Irish symbol.