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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.


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.


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

"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

lily More Idioms  

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of lily

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

For Abriana Vicioso, the calla lily was her parents’ wedding flower — a symbol of her mother’s beauty.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

These include motifs of a horse and corgi, references to art and theatre to mark "her enduring support for culture", as well as some of her favourite flowers - roses and lily of the valley.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

I watched a wilted African lily fall from its stalk in the garden.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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