lily

1 of 2

noun

plural lilies
1
: any of a genus (Lilium of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are native to the temperate northern hemisphere and are widely cultivated for their showy flowers
broadly : any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families
2
: any of various plants with showy flowers: such as
a
: a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region
3
lily-like adjective
or lilylike

lily

2 of 2

adjective

: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility
my lady's lily handJohn Keats

Examples of lily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In the Instagram Story snap, two bouquets of red and white roses and a bouquet of pink lilies and carnations arranged in a woven basket were seen perched on an island in what appeared to be Biles’ kitchen. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 6 Jan. 2024 Flowers included tones of pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows and included some of the bride’s favorites—like roses, dahlias, fire lilies, and Dianthus Hollandia. Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023 Heated and cooled by abundant sunshine and ocean breezes, these buildings created the perfect micro-climate for growing lilies, tulips, delphiniums and orchids. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 The forest setting, with its lilies, frogs, and bending trees, doesn’t connect with Tolstoy’s laments, but so what? David Denby, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2023 There are times when the more formal filmmaking choices, such as a frequent use of fisheye lenses, feel like gilding the lily, but that's a minor quibble. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2023 There were suddenly flowers—big, blooming lilies, purple orchids, lavender tulips. Leslie Jamison, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 Work it adjacent to weed and lily beds where predators often hunt for meals along the perimeter. Mark Modoski, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024 Floral fragrance fans should also try Estée Lauder's Pleasure Eau de Parfum, which features notes of lilies, peonies, and violets. Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 20 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Favorite foods include crinum lily, amaryllis and day lily plants, but they may be found on other ornamentals and edibles. Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023 The standard version of miso soup might involve little more than soft tofu, rehydrated seaweed and a lily-pad suspension of scallions, but at home, Ando said, there are no rules. Eric Kim, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2022 For example, parrot tulips have fringed or scalloped petals and bright colors (like an exotic bird), while lily tulips are shaped more like, well, lilies than classic tulip blooms. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 19 Jan. 2023 According to the myth, from those drops of milk sprang the first ever lily flowers. Emma Dibdin, Town & Country, 18 May 2022 When the camera pans above the rocks and lily pads, a neon Budweiser sign appears and glows over the slimy spokesfrogs. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 Asawa’s Andrea Fountain with mermaids nursing babies among lily pads. Heather Knight, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Jan. 2023 Western barking frogs leap on lily pads and feline predators like mountain lions roam along the stretches of the river that expand into marshlands, grasslands and mesquite bosque. Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 1 Jan. 2023 The sense of serenity is also perpetuated by waterfalls created throughout the property, lending the sound of gently rippling water, and ponds with either lily pads or swimming koi. Laurie Werner, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin lilium

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lily was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lily

Cite this Entry

“Lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lily. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lily

noun
ˈlil-ē
plural lilies
: any of a genus of herbs with leafy stems that grow from bulbs and have funnel-shaped flowers
also : any of various related plants

More from Merriam-Webster on lily

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