lilac

[ lahy-luhk, -lahk, -lak ]
See synonyms for: lilaclilacs on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. any of various shrubs belonging to the genus Syringa, of the olive family, as S. vulgaris, having large clusters of fragrant purple or white flowers: the state flower of New Hampshire.

  2. pale reddish purple.

adjective
  1. having the color lilac.

Origin of lilac

1
First recorded in 1615–25; from obsolete French, from Spanish, from Arabic līlak, from Persian līlak, assimilated variant of nīlak “bluish,” equivalent to nīl “blue, indigo” (from Sanskrit nīla ) + -ak a suffix indicating relationship or origin

Words Nearby lilac

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lilac in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lilac

lilac

/ (ˈlaɪlək) /


noun
  1. Also called: syringa any of various Eurasian oleaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Syringa, esp S. vulgaris (common lilac) which has large sprays of purple or white fragrant flowers

  2. French lilac another name for goat's-rue (def. 1)

    • a light or moderate purple colour, sometimes with a bluish or reddish tinge

    • (as adjective): a lilac carpet

Origin of lilac

1
C17: via French from Spanish, from Arabic līlak, changed from Persian nīlak bluish, from nīl blue

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012