plural 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 as
a
: a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region
b
c
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility
my lady's lily hand—
John Keats
John KeatsExamples of lily in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Bonus buds that time of year include lupine, Indian paintbrush, and chocolate lily.
—Emma Veidt, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2025
Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023
The standard version of miso soup might involve little more than soft tofu, rehydrated seaweed and a lily-pad suspension of scallions, but at home, Ando said, there are no rules.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lily
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Noun
Planting the lily outdoors too early could lead to damage from freezing temperatures.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Apr. 2025
Bonus buds that time of year include lupine, Indian paintbrush, and chocolate lily.
—Emma Veidt, Outside Online, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Favorite foods include crinum lily, amaryllis and day lily plants, but they may be found on other ornamentals and edibles.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023
The standard version of miso soup might involve little more than soft tofu, rehydrated seaweed and a lily-pad suspension of scallions, but at home, Ando said, there are no rules.
—Eric Kim, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for lily
Cite this Entry
“Lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lily. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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