tick-trefoil

Questions

What does tick-trefoil mean?

One of several species in the genus Desmodium in the legume family

Where does tick-trefoil come from?

From tick + trefoil (“three-leaved”). Tick refers to the plant's loments – pods that break apart into segments that each contain one seed – which have small hooked hairs that allow the segments to stick to clothes, hair, or fur, similar to the way a tick clings on with its legs.

How to pronounce tick-trefoil

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tick-trefoil”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tick-trefoil”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “tick-trefoil” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.