trefoil knot

noun

A knot formed by joining the two loose ends of a overhand knot to form a knotted loop; the simplest non-trivial knot.

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Meanings

nountrefoil knot (plural trefoil knots)

plural trefoil knots

  1. mathematicsA knot formed by joining the two loose ends of a overhand knot to form a knotted loop; the simplest non-trivial knot.

Origin

From trefoil + knot, from being a knot theory knot, where its simplest symmetrical configuration appears like a trefoil. File:Trefoil-non-3-symm.svg|A trefoil knot lacking three-fold symmetry File:Tricoloring.png|The trefoil knot with each lobe highlighted File:Trefoil Knot.gif|Trefoil knot

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish apilasolmu
  • apilasolmuthe simplest non-trivial knot
Cite this entry
APA

trefoil knot. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trefoil%20knot

MLA

“trefoil knot.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trefoil%20knot. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “trefoil knot,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/trefoil%20knot.

Source: trefoil knot on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.