lily
1 of 2noun
ˈli-lē 
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
: water lily
c
: calla lily
3
: fleur-de-lis sense 2
lily-like adjective
or lilylike
ˈli-lē-ˌlīk
lily
2 of 2adjective
: resembling a lily in fairness, purity, or fragility
my lady's lily hand
John Keats
John Keats
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 For the next 30 years, until his death in 1925, the French Impressionist painted hundreds of different-sized canvasses, filled with images of his backyard lily ponds. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 27 July 2022 To gild the lily for this recipe, some warm spices and musky lime zest tie it all together. Christian Reynoso, Bon Appétit, 25 July 2022 Suwa’s section isn’t as narratively propulsive as Santi’s; the coda, which gives us a flash-forward peek into the future, feels a bit like gilding the lily. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Gilding the lily: Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 23 July 2022 The heart of the scent features pink rose, tuberose, and gardenia, with a base of lily, jasmine, and musks. Tynan Sinks, Allure, 19 July 2022 The giant lily is found in freshwater rivers, ponds and floodplains in northeastern Bolivia. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2022 Frankly, the heavy cream would only have gilded the lily and then drowned it in cream. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 21 June 2022 Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2022 Guests including Aaron Philip, Martha Hunt, Richie Shazam, Maria Alia Al-Sadek, Carole Radziwill, and Adam Kenworthy were welcomed to beautiful grounds with summery cocktails and canapés, which were enjoyed by the lily pond and dipping pool. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 11 July 2022 Glass surrounds the east- and west-facing doors for views of the Plaza de Panama and the lily pond. San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2022 Good Kind Pure's sweet vanilla mist laced with spicy ginger and a lily note for a hint of softness and sophistication. April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, 22 July 2022 Lucy Smith, a botanical artist with experience working with lily pads, was brought on to draw illustrations of Magdalena’s various lily pad species. Dylan Butts, NBC News, 4 July 2022 For the intimate affair, Stefani wore a custom lily white Vera Wang Haute silk georgette gown with a sweetheart plunging neckline, cut away back, fitted bodice and high low hand tumbled tulle skirt. Amethyst Tate, PEOPLE.com, 4 July 2022 Scientists initially believed there were only two subspecies of giant lily pads, the Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana. Dylan Butts, NBC News, 4 July 2022 When not winning major tennis championships and breaking barriers in one of the most lily-white sports at the time, Ashe was a vocal advocate for civil rights, even getting arrested in 1985 for protesting apartheid outside the South African embassy. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 24 June 2022 See More
Noun
This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom. WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 For the next 30 years, until his death in 1925, the French Impressionist painted hundreds of different-sized canvasses, filled with images of his backyard lily ponds. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 27 July 2022 To gild the lily for this recipe, some warm spices and musky lime zest tie it all together. Christian Reynoso, Bon Appétit, 25 July 2022 Suwa’s section isn’t as narratively propulsive as Santi’s; the coda, which gives us a flash-forward peek into the future, feels a bit like gilding the lily. Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2022 Gilding the lily: Dust with powdered sugar before serving. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 23 July 2022 The heart of the scent features pink rose, tuberose, and gardenia, with a base of lily, jasmine, and musks. Tynan Sinks, Allure, 19 July 2022 The giant lily is found in freshwater rivers, ponds and floodplains in northeastern Bolivia. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2022 Frankly, the heavy cream would only have gilded the lily and then drowned it in cream. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 21 June 2022 Adjective
Brown said the minority outreach effort could be reassuring to a segment of white Republican voters concerned that the GOP can be characterized as a lily white party. Mike Cason | Mcason@al.com, al, 10 Sep. 2022 Guests including Aaron Philip, Martha Hunt, Richie Shazam, Maria Alia Al-Sadek, Carole Radziwill, and Adam Kenworthy were welcomed to beautiful grounds with summery cocktails and canapés, which were enjoyed by the lily pond and dipping pool. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 11 July 2022 Glass surrounds the east- and west-facing doors for views of the Plaza de Panama and the lily pond. San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2022 Good Kind Pure's sweet vanilla mist laced with spicy ginger and a lily note for a hint of softness and sophistication. April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, 22 July 2022 Lucy Smith, a botanical artist with experience working with lily pads, was brought on to draw illustrations of Magdalena’s various lily pad species. Dylan Butts, NBC News, 4 July 2022 For the intimate affair, Stefani wore a custom lily white Vera Wang Haute silk georgette gown with a sweetheart plunging neckline, cut away back, fitted bodice and high low hand tumbled tulle skirt. Amethyst Tate, PEOPLE.com, 4 July 2022 Scientists initially believed there were only two subspecies of giant lily pads, the Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana. Dylan Butts, NBC News, 4 July 2022 When not winning major tennis championships and breaking barriers in one of the most lily-white sports at the time, Ashe was a vocal advocate for civil rights, even getting arrested in 1985 for protesting apartheid outside the South African embassy. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 24 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English lilie, from Old English, from Latin lilium
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing lily
Kids Definition
lily
noun
ˈli-lē
plural 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