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:
That’s no small attraction, though, for the multiplicity of hues—cerulean, lilac, coral, seafoam, sienna—are hypnotically rendered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 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
"Back in 1998, we had this outfit with tartan trews, a pinky lilac shirt, and these tartan waistcoats, which we were so proud of," Kennedy remembers.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2025
Inside was a short letter written in lilac ink on slate-gray paper.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
At Chiswick, staff were watering drooping camellias and lilacs, shrubs that normally thrive in sun.
From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026
For floral joy throughout the year, set reminders now to take some time in the coming months to literally stop and smell the roses ... or lilacs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 2, 2025
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
One might be the spark of a memory of the smell of lilacs on a country road in childhood.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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