melilotus

9.7

A plant like sweet clover that farmers grow for hay and to improve soil

noun
/ˌmɛlɪˈloʊtəs/

Specialized

: melilotus

Farmers often plant melilotus to enrich the soil with nitrogen.

Examples

Farmers often grow melilotus as a cover crop.
The field was covered with blooming melilotus plants, attracting bees and other pollinators.
After harvesting the hay, the melilotus left behind improved the soil for next year's crops.
The melilotus plant thrives in well-drained soil.
Farmers often plant melilotus to enrich the soil with nitrogen.
The field was covered with blooming melilotus plants, attracting bees and other pollinators.
After harvesting the hay, the melilotus left behind improved the soil for next year's crops.

Synonyms

sweet clover

vsmelilotus

4.7

A plant grown for hay that makes soil richer for other plants

is the formal botanical genus term for the same group of plants

melilot

vsmelilotus

Specialized

9.9

A plant with small yellow flowers that farmers grow to feed animals and improve soil

is the broader botanical genus that includes those individual plants

Antonyms

weed

187 1.0

A wild plant that grows where people do not want it and harms other plants

Compounds

Melilotus alba

Specialized

9.9

A two-year plant with white flowers that bees visit and animals eat

Melilotus officinalis

Specialized

9.9

A plant with yellow flowers from Europe and Asia used to improve soil and give a mild sweet scent

Surface Forms

melilotus singular

melilotuses plural

Etymology

Melilotus comes from old Greek and Latin parts mel- 'honey' and -lotus 'plant', because its small flowers smell sweet and attract bees. That's why melilotus, also called sweet clover, is grown in fields for hay and to help the soil.