spider lily

American

noun

any of several plants having lilylike flowers with narrow petals, as those belonging to the genera Crinum, Hymenocallis, and Lycoris, of the amaryllis family.

Etymology

Origin of spider lily

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

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.

When designing the trip-pod like floorplan, Chicago-based firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill took inspiration from the hymenocallis, or spider lily, a regional desert flower with a central white bulb and six long, slender petals.

From National Geographic • Jun. 9, 2023

It is called spiderwort, spider lily, ink flower, king’s crown, and various other names.

From A Book Written by the Spirits of the So-Called Dead by Helleberg, C. G. (Carl Gustaf)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023