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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.

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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.

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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

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lily More Idioms  

1. see gild the lily.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lily-like
  adjective
• lilylike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lilies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lily

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lily Lily lilies

The resin-coated pieces highlight all the natural beauty of a Gerbera daisy or a Stargazer lily, without the wilting and withering.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

“A resort-style pool, tranquil lily ponds, meandering pathways, shaded terraces, and a full-size tennis court create moments of both recreation and quiet reflection, where the sounds of nature replace the pace of everyday life.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Her bridal bouquet included sweet peas, myrtle – a tradition in Ms Sperling's family and for the Royal Family – and lily of the valley.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

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

You can see the place, under the lily, where the lettering was painted out, when they decided that even the names of shops were too much temptation for us.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

That was followed by the more sedate Easter Lily EP in April; with Carnaval de Luz rounding off the story.

From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026

The BBC’s North America technology correspondent Lily Jamali explains what you need to know about the breach, and why it matters.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

And the hardships of work meet the challenges faced by immigrants in the paintings of Lily Honglei.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

He is survived by his wife, daughter Lily, mother Jackie and brother Brian.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026

Lily flips through the newspaper until she recognizes the big square with the astrology signs.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

The colour of your flowers is a personal choice, adds Wong, so there is no need to "follow the rules" of British tradition with white lilies.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

Designed by Gaudí, the Nativity façade is both naturalistic and overflowing with natural imagery: lilies and palm trees, a tortoise and sea turtle, insects and frogs, sheep and ducks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

"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

The florist-by-trade gestures behind her to hundreds of flowers contained in buckets — blue thistles, ivory anemones and calla lilies painted silver — all twisted and unfurling into the air.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 2, 2026

Kneeling in her pew, Blanca would inhale the intense smell of the virgin’s incense and lilies, suffering the combined torment of nausea, guilt, and boredom.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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