lilac

noun li·lac \ ˈlī-ˌläk , -ˌlak , -lək \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of lilac

1 a : a widely cultivated European shrub (Syringa vulgaris) of the olive family that has cordate ovate leaves and large panicles of fragrant pinkish-purple or white flowers

b : a tree or shrub congeneric with the lilac

2 : a variable color averaging a moderate purple

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Recent Examples of lilac from the Web

Of course, this time of year there are also a lot of lilac questions.

— jeff lowenfels, Anchorage Daily News, "Here’s what’s eating your currant bushes and ‘spitting’ on your wild roses," 13 July 2018
The roof deck, though, was fully furnished — and also came with peonies, lilacs and strawberries.

— New York Times, "Trading Chelsea Clatter for Greenpoint Calm," 5 July 2018
Paltrow also recently lent her Hamptons’s living room to a sort of spon-con interior design update on Goop some years ago, replacing the pink color-story with a lilac and gray one.

— kenzie bryant, Vanities, "Has Gwyneth Paltrow’s Secret Hamptons Wedding Been Torpedoed?," 20 June 2018
The British socialite dressed in a forest green jumpsuit for the event, paired with a white blazer and lilac Bimba y Lola tassel earrings.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Pippa Middleton Steps Out in a Chic Jumpsuit After Confirming Her Pregnancy," 15 June 2018
The sense of leaving that graduations and lilacs have always evoked in me.

— ty burr, BostonGlobe.com, "Every playlist tells a story," 14 June 2018
All of our favorite sneaker brands, from Nike to Veja, have been churning out the best baby pinks, dusty blues, mint greens, and powdery lilacs paired with the best fabrics and maybe even a platform or two.

— nastassia brückin, Teen Vogue, "Pastel Sneakers Are the Summer Trend You'll Want to Wear All Season Long," 25 May 2018
Images have surfaced online regarding Liverpool's new kits for the 2018/19 season, although the rumoured 'lilac' strip was nowhere to be seen.

— SI.com, "PHOTO: Images Leaked of Liverpool's Potential Home Kit for Next Season," 24 Feb. 2018
Sadly, the convenience of not having to fight over the last pair of lilac or magenta flip-flops is no more.

— ana colon, Glamour, "Alert: Old Navy's Legendary $1 Flip-Flop Sale Is No Longer Online," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lilac.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.