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Glite Dictionary
yellow trefoil

yellow trefoil

9.8
A low-growing plant with small yellow flowers and curved black seed pods
  • noun
translation icon : trébol amarillo
  • The curved black pods help to identify yellow trefoil in the meadow.

Examples

  • The yellow trefoil blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • The field was covered in yellow trefoil and other wildflowers.

  • Gardeners often plant yellow trefoil to improve soil health.

  • Look at the yellow trefoil!

  • Many farmers cultivate yellow trefoil because it enriches the soil with nutrients.

  • In summer, the fields are alive with yellow trefoil and buzzing bees enjoying its flowers.

  • You can often find yellow trefoil growing in sunny meadows alongside other wild plants.

Synonyms

Medicago lupulina
vsyellow trefoil
  • Specialized
9.6

A low-growing plant from Europe with small yellow flowers often found in lawns

is used as the common name rather than the scientific label
black medick
vsyellow trefoil
8.7

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

is described as lying flat rather than simply low in growth
nonesuch clover
vsyellow trefoil
  • UK
9.9

A low-growing plant with small yellow flowers and curved black seed pods often found in grass

is the broader name for the plant without specifying species or habitat
hop clover
vsyellow trefoil
9.2

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

notes the plant by its pod-bearing description rather than folkloric name

Surface Forms

yellow trefoil singular
yellow trefoils plural

Morphology

yellow + trefoil

The phrase is a direct compositional combination: 'yellow' modifies 'trefoil' (a clover-like plant), so it denotes a trefoil that is yellow. This meaning follows normal noun modification patterns and is predictable for a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Yellow trefoil describes how the plant looks: yellow for its small yellow flowers and trefoil meaning 'three leaves', because each leaf has three parts and the plant often has curved black seed pods. So the name helps you remember it's a low herb with yellow flowers and three-part leaves you can spot in fields.