water lily

American  

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.

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water lily British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of water lily

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

Since 2008, he had been the director of the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny, where Monet’s water lily paintings were produced.

From New York Times

There is some food aid, but many in the area survive by foraging for water lily roots and fish to supplement their rations.

From BBC

While down in those murky depths he was harvesting the seeds of a type of water lily called euryale ferox.

From BBC

He's holding a picture that shows how the lake used to look, with much of it covered with water lilies.

From BBC

A Claude Monet painting of water lilies on a pond in Giverny, France, is up for auction at the Christie’s auction house in November and will fetch at least $65 million.

From Washington Times