cloverleaf
UK[ˈkləʊvəliːf]US[ˈkloʊvərliːf]
n
a shape or pattern that resembles a leaf of a clover plant, especially one with three or four rounded parts
n
a junction of roads intersecting at different levels with connecting sections forming a pattern like a clover leaf
Morpheme Breakdown
clover
leaf
clover
leaf
Etymology
the word 'cloverleaf' is a modern english compound, formed by combining two old english nouns. 'clover' derives from the old english 'clāfre', referring to the trifoliate plant, while 'leaf' comes from the old english 'lēaf', denoting the flat, typically green organ of a plant. the compound first emerged in the 19th century to describe a shape resembling the three-lobed leaf of a clover plant. its most prominent modern application arose in the 20th century with the development of the 'cloverleaf interchange' in highway engineering, where the looping ramps visually mimic the form of a four-leaf clover.
Analysis
Structure: clover + leaf
clover (from old english 'clāfre', a plant name) + leaf (from old english 'lēaf', a part of a plant)
Examples
the child drew a simple cloverleaf in the corner of the page.
we exited the highway via the complex cloverleaf interchange.
the new traffic plan includes building a cloverleaf to ease congestion.