Illustration of trillium
trillium
noun
tril·li·um ˈtri-lē-əm 
: any of a genus (Trillium) of herbs of the lily family with an erect stem bearing a whorl of three leaves and a solitary typically spring-blooming flower
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Everybody loves trillium, and there are many different kinds of it. 
Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 Hike trails searching for trillium and lady slippers. Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 19 May 2022 In Waukesha, Linder said her blended gardens lean cottage style but also include a variety of woodland natives including wild geranium, mayapple, bloodroot, wild ginger and both red and white trillium. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Several storytelling, dance and music performances make the list this week, as does a trillium festival and a historic farming living history day. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Other spring flowers to look for include spring beauty, trillium, violets and wild geranium. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2022 COVID-19 lockdowns didn’t stop early spring trillium from blooming, but the annual festival celebrating the native flower took a two-year break. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Celebrate the return of the trillium with interactive learning stations, hikes focusing on native plants and displays on watershed education. oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022 Phelps was thoroughly scientific about education — her botany text explains inflorescence, the classification of trillium, and the theory of metamorphoses of the organs of plants — but nature also inspired her. Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2021 See More
Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 Hike trails searching for trillium and lady slippers. Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 19 May 2022 In Waukesha, Linder said her blended gardens lean cottage style but also include a variety of woodland natives including wild geranium, mayapple, bloodroot, wild ginger and both red and white trillium. Jennifer Rude Klett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 May 2022 Several storytelling, dance and music performances make the list this week, as does a trillium festival and a historic farming living history day. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Other spring flowers to look for include spring beauty, trillium, violets and wild geranium. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2022 COVID-19 lockdowns didn’t stop early spring trillium from blooming, but the annual festival celebrating the native flower took a two-year break. oregonlive, 30 Mar. 2022 Celebrate the return of the trillium with interactive learning stations, hikes focusing on native plants and displays on watershed education. oregonlive, 1 Apr. 2022 Phelps was thoroughly scientific about education — her botany text explains inflorescence, the classification of trillium, and the theory of metamorphoses of the organs of plants — but nature also inspired her. Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Swedish trilling triplet; from its three leaves
First Known Use
circa 1760, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing trillium
Kids Definition
trillium
noun
tril·li·um ˈtri-lē-əm
: a plant related to the lilies that has three leaves and a single flower with three petals and that blooms in the spring