Main Entry:

¹lily

Pronunciation:

\ˈli-lē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural lil·ies

Etymology:

Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin lilium

Date:

before 12th century

1: any of a genus (Lilium of the family Liliaceae, the lily family) of erect perennial leafy-stemmed bulbous herbs that are native to the temperate northern hemisphere and are widely cultivated for their showy flowers ; broadly : any of various plants of the lily family or of the related amaryllis or iris families2: any of various plants with showy flowers: as a: a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region b: water lily c: calla lily 3: fleur-de-lis 2