lilac
Americannoun
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lilacs
plural
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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.
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pale reddish purple.
adjective
noun
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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
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another name for goat's-rue
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a light or moderate purple colour, sometimes with a bluish or reddish tinge
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( as adjective )
a lilac carpet
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lilac
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
Vocabulary lists containing lilac
Non-Color Words to Use When Describing Color
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Purple
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Example Sentences
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See Examples For:
New piercing hubs now rolling out feature Claire’s new hero shade of lilac; bigger, comfier chairs than the ones of my youth; and an Inspiration Bar to help customers design their “ear stacks.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
Vibrantly-coloured drinks made with ube, or purple yam, have also been added to Costa Coffee and Starbucks menus this summer, with marketing materials heavily promoting ube's lilac hues.
From BBC ● May 8, 2026
Infiniti oozed glamour in a lilac sleeveless Louis Vuitton dress with a fitted bodice and a cascade of ruffles tumbling from her hip to the floor, creating a long train.
From Barron's ● Mar. 15, 2026
The duo stared up in the sky as dozens of lilac balloons burst into the sky.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2025
Throughout the long afternoon, Matthias lay hidden at the base of a lilac bush.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
At Chiswick, staff were watering drooping camellias and lilacs, shrubs that normally thrive in sun.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
But at the same time, lilacs are blooming and birds are flapping around in the trees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
Plant lilacs where they will get full sun, and water new plants well for the first few seasons, after which they will be quite tolerant of dry months.
From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2024
She described her childhood within the island's forested expanse, making dirt-pies and chasing garter snakes next to "fragrant purple lilacs, sour grapes in vines strangling the trunks of tart green apple trees".
From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2023
She would have lilacs in a vase on the dresser and striped linen sheets on the bed.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
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