lilac

[ lahy-luhk, -lahk, -lak ]

See synonyms for: lilac lilacs on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.
pale reddish purple.

adjective

having the color lilac.

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

Words Nearby lilac

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lilac in a sentence

In 2015, researchers found that British English speakers are using lilac and turquoise as basic colors.
Is the sky really blue? It depends on what language you speak | Kathryn Hulick | March 17, 2022 | Science News For Students
The smells of spruce and lilac from overhanging branches soak my nostrils.
Chronic Illness Had Me Stuck in Grief. My E-Bike Helped Me Find Joy Again. | mmirhashem | October 11, 2021 | Outside Online
Like the “misty dream” and the falling lilac petals she sings of, IU’s timbre echoes the transient quality of memories.
The Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 So Far | Kat Moon | July 1, 2021 | Time
Sky and soft sunlight tint the snow blue, pink, lilac, peach.
Visiting the Arctic Circle…Before It’s Irreversibly Changed | Terry Greene Sterling | April 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
As the sky turned lilac, we sat at a low circular table and looked out over the palm groves of Skoura.
On Foot in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco | Joanna Eede | January 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

We reached our last camp as lighting pulsed through lilac-dark clouds over the Kenyan hills.
Walking With Wildebeests: Exploring the Serengeti on Foot | Joanna Eede | July 9, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Trim trousers in nubby shades of lilac were paired with jackets in iridescent hues of melon.
Paris Fall 2012 Fashion Week: Haider Ackermann, Lanvin, and Comme des Garçons | Robin Givhan | March 4, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
One of these collaborations includes a lilac hourglass-shaped Tadashi gown in which Spencer collected her very first Golden Globe.
Octavia Spencer: Nominated for ‘The Help’ and Star of the Red Carpet | Justine Harman | February 23, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
He muttered something about his gray hairs, but came along after an amused glance at lilac and Konnel.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown Fyfe
Even Konnel had a small pile before him, although he seemed to be losing some of lilac's attention to Meadows.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown Fyfe
"And less of the 'lady' business outa you," said lilac, but low enough to keep it private.
Fee of the Frontier | Horace Brown Fyfe
She had lived twenty-five years up-stairs and down-stairs in that white house with the lilac shrubbery and low iron fence.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
Right near the bay window, in the thick lilac tree, Marmaduke spied Red Robin's nest.
Seven O'Clock Stories | Robert Gordon Anderson

British Dictionary definitions for lilac

lilac

/ (ˈlaɪlək) /

noun

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
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

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

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