noun
lilo
LEYE-loh
Lilo (noun) means British: an inflatable mattress used for floating on water or camping. Example: “The kids spent all afternoon paddling around the pool on a lilo.”
noun
1
British: an inflatable mattress used for floating on water or camping.
"The kids spent all afternoon paddling around the pool on a lilo."
How to use lilo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA blow-up mattress, mainly used in British English; Americans usually say "air mattress" or "pool float."
UK vs US
This word is mostly British; American English rarely uses it.
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Word forms
- Plural
- lilos
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids spent all afternoon paddling around the pool on a _____.
Etymology
From "Li-Lo," the trademark of a company that made rubberized-canvas air mattresses from the 1940s to the 1970s — itself a playful respelling of "lie low."
Class of 1940
lilo joined the language around 1940.
See the full Class of 1940 →
Rhymes for lilo
See all rhymes for lilo →Frequently asked questions
What does “lilo” mean?
The word “lilo” means british: an inflatable mattress used for floating on water or camping. In plain terms, a blow-up mattress, mainly used in British English; Americans usually say "air mattress" or "pool float.".
How do you pronounce “lilo”?
“Lilo” is pronounced LEYE-loh (/ˈlaɪləʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lilo” in a sentence?
Here is “lilo” used in a sentence: “The kids spent all afternoon paddling around the pool on a lilo.”
What part of speech is “lilo”?
“Lilo” is a noun.
Where does the word “lilo” come from?
The word “lilo” dates back to around 1940. From "Li-Lo," the trademark of a company that made rubberized-canvas air mattresses from the 1940s to the 1970s — itself a playful respelling of "lie low.".
