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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 notes

In 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.

Word forms

lilos plural

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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."

· First attested 1940

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.".

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial