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• lily
  lily

  noun

  any scaly-bulbed plant of the genus Lilium, having showy, funnel-shaped or bell-shaped flowers.
• Lily
  Lily

  noun

  a female given name.

lily

¹ American  

[lil-ee] / ˈlɪl i /

noun

• lilies
  plural

1. any scaly-bulbed plant of the genus Lilium, having showy, funnel-shaped or bell-shaped flowers.

2. the flower or the bulb of such a plant.

3. any of various related or similar plants or their flowers, as the mariposa lily or the calla lily.

4. fleur-de-lis, especially as the symbol of France.

5. Bowling. a split in which the five, seven, and ten pins remain standing.

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adjective

1. white as a lily.

   her lily hands.

2. delicately fair.

   a lily maiden.

3. pure; unsullied.

   the lily truth.

4. pale; fragile; weak.

idioms

1. gild the lily. gild.

Lily ² American  

[lil-e] / ˈlɪl ɛ /

Or Lilly

noun

1. a female given name.

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lily British  

/ ˈlɪlɪ /

noun

1. any liliaceous perennial plant of the N temperate genus Lilium, such as the Turk's-cap lily and tiger lily, having scaly bulbs and showy typically pendulous flowers

2. the bulb or flower of any of these plants

3. any of various similar or related plants, such as the water lily, plantain lily, and day lily

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lily More Idioms  

1. see gild the lily.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lily-like
  adjective
• lilylike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lilies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lily

before 1000; Middle English, Old English lilie < Latin līlium; compare Greek leírion

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lily Lily lilies

“A resort-style pool, tranquil lily ponds, meandering pathways, shaded terraces, and a full-size tennis court create moments of both recreation and quiet reflection, where the sounds of nature replace the pace of everyday life.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Brittany Harris-Nelson describes her career journey so far as being like "a frog moving across lily pads".

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

It also said florists could employ staff to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

There are plenty of signs that the gild is coming off the lily of the most robust AI forecasts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026

I remember the tiger lily cookie and, now that Peeta is talking to me again, it’s all I can do not to recount the whole story about President Snow.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Actor Bill Nighy's reinvention as an agony uncle has earned him the award for best host at the British Podcast Awards, beating names such as Louis Theroux, Katherine Ryan and Lily Allen.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

And the hardships of work meet the challenges faced by immigrants in the paintings of Lily Honglei.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Gilbert later married Cimorelli in October 2020, and the two welcomed a daughter, Lily, in 2021.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026

Parton's breakout screen role came in the 1980 workplace comedy 9 to 5, where she starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

I nod, and he disappears down the narrow steps, leaving me alone with Lily.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Of all the flowers the family have planted in Mabel's garden, Emma's favourite are the lilies.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Beware of lilies, which are toxic to cats; even chewing the leaves or licking pollen off their fur while grooming can be fatal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Its facade made it look like a temple in miniature, with two red electric candles, stone lions and a small bunch of pink lilies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

"Kank lived in a landscape of meandering rivers and streams with seasonal ponds, inhabited by aquatic plants such as water lilies and animals including fish, insects, and various molluscs," says Dr. Motta.

From Science Daily ● May 29, 2026

I pass by bright green lawns and ornate trees trimmed into shapes favored by the gods, flowerbeds that burst with scarlet Belle-roses and snowy lilies shimmering like blankets of red and white stardust.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

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