Definition of lily
lilies
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 families
2 : any of various plants with showy flowers: such asa : a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean regionb : water lilyc : calla lily
3 : fleur-de-lis 2
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Origin and Etymology of lily
Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin lilium
First Known Use: before 12th century
lily
Definition of lily
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility my lady's lily hand — John Keats
15th Century
First Known Use of lily
15th century
LILY Defined for English Language Learners
lily
playDefinition of lily for English Language Learners
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: a type of plant that has large white or colorful bell-shaped flowers; also : the flower
LILY Defined for Kids
lily
playDefinition of lily for Students
lilies
: a plant (as the Easter lily or the tiger lily) that grows from a bulb and has a leafy stem and showy funnel-shaped flowers
Learn More about lily
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See words that rhyme with lily Spanish Central: Translation of lily Nglish: Translation of lily for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lily for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lily
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