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
Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2024
Selecting which dresses to display was a delicate exercise, with prints and embroideries of lilies, poppies, roses and bougainvillea competing for attention.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024
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
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Noun
True lilies produce one stem and have narrow, strappy leaves.
—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2024
Selecting which dresses to display was a delicate exercise, with prints and embroideries of lilies, poppies, roses and bougainvillea competing for attention.
—Joelle Diderich, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024
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
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Cite this Entry
“Lily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lily. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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