water lily

noun

: any of various aquatic plants (especially genera Nymphaea and Nuphar of the family Nymphaeaceae, the water-lily family) with floating leaves and usually showy flowers
broadly : an aquatic plant (such as a water hyacinth) with showy flowers

Examples of water lily in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One in five children here are severely malnourished, with mothers forced to feed them water lilies, which grow in the flood waters, to keep their bellies full. Esther Castillejo, ABC News, 19 Apr. 2023 Small brown water lily beetles cause holes in water lily leaves. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2024 Nature lovers will find an abundance of places to explore: Nearby McKee Botanical Garden brims with tropical plants (look for water lilies blooming in its streams), while Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge serves as a home for brown pelicans and other migrating avians. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2024 Allport himself introduced English species such as tench, perch, and water lilies to Tasmania, and published 15 papers with the RST. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 Nov. 2023 The set also includes extra fun details to build, including a red bird in a jungle, a bonsai tree, and water lilies. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 The river near Leticia is dotted with giant Amazonian water lily pads that span up to 10 feet in diameter. Natalie Meade, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2023 Infused with water lily extract, hyaluronic acid, and sunflower seed oil, the hydrating pigments in Saie Glow Sculpt Multi-Use Cream Highlighting Blush deposit a dewy flush on cheeks, lids, and (in a pinch) lips. Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023 Some good pollinator plants for ponds include water lilies, buttercups, and irises. Jenny Krane, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water lily.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of water lily was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near water lily

Cite this Entry

“Water lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20lily. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

water lily

noun
: any of a family of water plants with rounded floating leaves and usually showy flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on water lily

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