water lily

noun

1. any of various aquatic plants of the genus Nymphaea, species of which have large, disklike, floating leaves and showy flowers, especially N. odorata, of America, or N. alba, of Europe.

2. any related plant of the genus Nuphar.

3. a plant of the water lily family.

4. the flower of any such plant.

water lily

noun

1. any of various aquatic plants of the genus Nymphaea and related genera, of temperate and tropical regions, having large leaves and showy flowers that float on the surface of the water: family Nymphaeaceae

2. any of various similar and related plants, such as the yellow water lily

Word History and Origins

Origin of water lily¹

First recorded in 1540–50