any scaly-bulbed plant of the genus Lilium, having showy, funnel-shaped or bell-shaped flowers.
the flower or the bulb of such a plant.
any of various related or similar plants or their flowers, as the mariposa lily or the calla lily.
fleur-de-lis, especially as the symbol of France.
Bowling. a split in which the five, seven, and ten pins remain standing.
white as a lily.
her lily hands.
delicately fair.
a lily maiden.
pure; unsullied.
the lily truth.
pale; fragile; weak.
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
the bulb or flower of any of these plants
any of various similar or related plants, such as the water lily, plantain lily, and day lily
before 1000; Middle English, Old English lilie < Latin līlium; compare Greek leírion
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Brittany Harris-Nelson describes her career journey so far as being like "a frog moving across lily pads".
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Those who describe their career strategies as "lily padding" are always on the lookout for the next opportunity.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
Two years ago, he turned several straggly islands off Miami into blooming lily pads by surrounding them with hot-pink fabric.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
It also said florists should open to sell fragrant lily of the valley, which is traditionally sold on Labour Day in France.
From Barron's ● May 1, 2026
She will miss this glorious light warming the inside of her skin and jeweling the trees, the grass, the lily pond beyond the hedge.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
The most popular names for babies born in 2025 in England and Wales have been revealed - with Lily moving up the charts into second place for girls.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
Lily Belle Poling is a reporting intern and a member of the summer 2026 newsroom intern class at The Wall Street Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Lawrence’s own flaw is the hypocrisy that allows him to carry on an affair with a married person while condemning Lily when it appears that she has done the same.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
"Lily Allen at The O2. No support act, arrived on stage at 9:10pm, all wrapped up by 10pm, not one word to the audience, £86 to sit in the gods," he said.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
Lily is curled between us, watching reruns of Wheel of Fortune on Hulu.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
"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
White roses and lilies surrounded the coffin as it was carried into the basilica to the sound of Mozart.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
Last weekend, visitors walking through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and nearby areas found tall, bright sunflowers, deep pink desert sand-verbena, basket evening primrose and even elusive desert lilies, which thrilled photographers like myself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025
Black-clad mourners clutched bouquets of lilies as they filed into the funeral at Sydney's Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish society responsible for customary burial rites.
From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025
It was metal, of course, but like the relief on the walls of Sarai’s rooms—the songbirds and lilies so real they mocked the master carvers of Weep—it was utterly true to life.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
