lily of the valley

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noun, plural lilies of the valley.

a plant, Convallaria majalis, having an elongated cluster of small, drooping, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers.

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Origin of lily of the valley

First recorded in 1555–65

Words nearby lily of the valley

Lilyan, lily family, lily iron, lily-livered, lily-of-the-Nile, lily of the valley, lily pad, lily-trotter, lilyturf, lily-white, lim.

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

MORE ABOUT LILY OF THE VALLEY

What is a lily of the valley?

The lily of the valley is a plant with fragrant, bell-shaped, white flowers.

The name is sometimes hyphenated, as lily-of-the-valley. Its plural is lilies of the valley. Its scientific name is Convallaria majalis.

The lily of the valley is a popular garden plant. It is a perennial plant that blooms in spring, grows well in shade, and is known for spreading quickly and being ideal for ground cover. The plant and flowers are toxic (if ingested) to both humans and many domestic animals.

The lily of the valley is the national flower of Finland. It is also the May birth flower (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone). Bridal bouquets featuring lilies of the valley are popular. It is said to represent virtue, faithfulness, and sweetness. It is also associated with Christian symbolism and is sometimes called Our Lady’s Tears or Mary’s tears, in reference to Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Example: I love a beautiful bouquet of lilies of the valley.

Where does lily of the valley come from?

The first records of the term lily of the valley come from the mid-1500s. Despite its name, the lily of the valley is not considered a true lily, though it is part of the lily family. It likely gets its name because its bell-shaped flowers resemble true lilies.

The plant is native to a broad range in the Northern Hemisphere, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

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What are some other forms related to lily of the valley?

lily-of-the-valley (alternate hyphenated spelling)
lilies of the valley (plural)

What are some words that share a root or word element with lily of the valley?

What are some words that often get used in discussing lily of the valley?

How is lily of the valley used in real life?

The lily of the valley is popular for flower gardens. It’s known for its pleasant scent.

Happy May Day! My mother loved lily of the valley and so do I. In the French tradition of giving lily of the valley to those you love on May 1, sending these beautiful flowers to you – wishing you happiness & good luck! #MayDay #Lilyofthevalley #1erMai #happiness pic.twitter.com/lKvdXWFUjm

— Valerie Ghent (@ValerieGhent) May 1, 2019

so lily of the valley is my favorite flower in minecraft and i just found out they are apparently poisonous…. i don't know how to feel… i mean fitting ig

— not ashlynn (@imnotmesilly) April 12, 2021

From my tiny balcony garden.
Tiarella; Lily of the Valley; Blue Salvia. To Stacy, wherever she may be.
“….if I gave you flowers, I would want to give you flowers that I grew myself.” pic.twitter.com/GamfaaIQ6j

— Barry (@BarryW757) April 12, 2021

Try using lily of the valley!

True or False?

The lily of the valley is poisonous when ingested.

How to use lily of the valley in a sentence

France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But the people from Valley Stream had such a thick New York accent that was all around me.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

The region is marketed for visitors as “Aryan Valley,” and many citizens have taken to tacking on “Aryan” to their last names.
The Himalayas’ Hidden Aryans|Nina Strochlic|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
San Antonio de Bexar lies in a fertile and well-irrigated valley, stretching westward from the river Salado.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
When it cleared, the valley was a solid expanse of white, and the stars shone out as if in an Arctic sky.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
At the foot of the pass, the valley widened a little, though still with steep, snow-capped cliffs crowding it on either side.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
It was a sad day for Ramona and Alessandro when the kindly Hyers pulled up their tent-stakes and left the valley.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson

British Dictionary definitions for lily of the valley

lily of the valley

noun plural lilies of the valley

a small liliaceous plant, Convallaria majalis, of Eurasia and North America cultivated as a garden plant, having two long oval leaves and spikes of white bell-shaped flowers

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