Lily Definition

lĭlē

lilies

noun

Any of a large genus (Lilium) of perennial plants of the lily family, grown from a bulb and having typically trumpet-shaped flowers, white or colored.

Webster's New World

The flower or the bulb of any of these plants.

Webster's New World

Any of several plants similar to the true lily, as the waterlily.

Webster's New World

The flower of any of these plants.

Webster's New World

The heraldic fleur-de-lis, as in the royal arms of France.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

adjective

Designating a family (Liliaceae, order Liliales) of monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous, plants, including the tulips, hyacinths, onions, and asparagus.

Webster's New World

Like a lily, as in whiteness, delicacy, etc.

Webster's New World

(slang, derogatory) White (as a racial epithet).

Wiktionary

pronoun

A female given name. Popular around 1900 and currently returning to favor.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Lily

Noun

Singular:

lily

Plural:

lilies

Origin of Lily

Old English lilie, from Latin lÄ«lia, plural of lÄ«lium, from Ancient Greek λείριον (leírion), from Coptic (dial. Fayyumic) ϩⲗⲏⲣⲓ (hlÄ“ri), variant of ϩⲣⲏⲣⲉ (hrÄ“re), from Demotic (ḥrry), from Egyptian

From Wiktionary
A nineteenth century flower name from the lily. Also a diminutive of Lilian and, sometimes, of Elizabeth.

From Wiktionary
ḥrr.t (ḥereret) 'flower'. Perhaps also the root of Sanskrit हली/हलिनी (halI/halinI), both also meaning lily.

From Wiktionary
Middle English lilie from Old English from Latin līlium

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition