lily
LIH-lee
Lily (noun) means a plant of the genus Lilium, grown for its large, often trumpet-shaped flowers, or a similar-looking flowering plant. Example: “She planted a white lily by the front door.”
noun
1
A plant of the genus Lilium, grown for its large, often trumpet-shaped flowers, or a similar-looking flowering plant.
"She planted a white lily by the front door."
"Lilies filled the vase on the altar."
"Water lilies floated across the pond."
How to use lily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large, showy flower, often white, associated with purity and sometimes with funerals.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
lily of the valley
lily pad
white lily
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Word forms
- Plural
- lilies
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She planted a white _____ by the front door.
Etymology
From Old English lilie, from Latin līlium, from Greek leírion.
Rhymes for lily
See all rhymes for lily →Frequently asked questions
What does “lily” mean?
The word “lily” means a plant of the genus Lilium, grown for its large, often trumpet-shaped flowers, or a similar-looking flowering plant. In plain terms, a large, showy flower, often white, associated with purity and sometimes with funerals.
How do you pronounce “lily”?
“Lily” is pronounced LIH-lee (/ˈlɪli/ in IPA).
How do you use “lily” in a sentence?
Here is “lily” used in a sentence: “Lilies filled the vase on the altar.”
What part of speech is “lily”?
“Lily” is a noun.
Where does the word “lily” come from?
The word “lily” comes from Latin. From Old English lilie, from Latin līlium, from Greek leírion.
Is “lily” a common word?
“Lily” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a "lily" and a "water lily"?
A true lily is a plant of the genus Lilium, growing from a bulb with large, often trumpet-shaped flowers on a tall stem. A water lily is an unrelated aquatic plant that floats on the surface of ponds, despite sharing part of the name.
Is "lily of the valley" a true lily?
No. Despite its name, "lily of the valley" is a different plant, with small bell-shaped white flowers, and is not part of the Lilium genus. Many plants use "lily" in their common name without being true lilies.
What is the plural of "lily"?
The plural of "lily" is "lilies," changing the "y" to "ies" as with most nouns ending in a consonant plus "y." For example, "a vase of lilies."
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