First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1lily
noun \ˈli-lē\
: a type of plant that has large white or colorful bell-shaped flowers; also : the flower
plural lil·ies
Full Definition of LILY
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: as a : a scarlet anemone (Anemone coronaria) of the Mediterranean region b : water lily c : calla lily
3
: fleur-de-lis 2
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Origin of LILY
Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin lilium
2lily
adjective
Definition of LILY
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility <my lady's lily hand — John Keats>
First Known Use of LILY
15th century
LILY Defined for Kids
lily
noun \ˈli-lē\
plural lil·ies
Definition of LILY for Kids
: 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
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