water clover
- noun
- Specialized
:
trébol de agua
- The leaves of a water clover plant float delicately on the surface.
Examples
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The pond is home to several species, including the distinctive water clover.
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Look at the water clover floating on the surface.
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Botanists collected samples of water clover from the marsh for study.
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Have you ever seen water clovers in your garden?
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In the pond, we found delightful patches of water clover with their four leaflets floating on the surface.
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The water clover thrives in shallow water, often covering large areas with its vibrant green leaves.
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During our nature walk, we observed the water clover growing alongside lily pads in the serene lake.
Synonyms
An aquatic fern with four clover-like leaves from Europe, Asia and eastern North America
A small fern that grows in water and has leaves like a clover
A water fern with leaves divided into four small parts like a clover
A water fern with clover-like leaves that grows in rivers and wetlands
A plant that grows in water or very wet places
A fern that grows in water or very wet places
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where 'water' specifies the habitat and 'clover' names the plant type; a B1 learner who knows both words would infer an aquatic plant similar to clover. Detailed botanical features (e.g., being a fern with four leaflets) are specific, but the core meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
Water clover gets its name from a simple picture: the plant grows in water and its leaves have four parts that look like clover. That's why the name today means 'a water plant with clover-like leaves'.
