lily: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral, with poetic/literary use.
Quick answer
What does “lily” mean?
A type of plant with large, typically fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow from bulbs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of plant with large, typically fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow from bulbs.
Any of various plants with showy flowers resembling true lilies (e.g., daylily, calla lily); a symbol of purity and innocence in Christian iconography; in heraldry, a stylized fleur-de-lis; something or someone perceived as pure, delicate, or pale.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The plant name is identical. Potential minor spelling differences in compound words (e.g., 'lily-livered' vs. 'lily-livered' - both correct).
Connotations
Connotations of purity, innocence, and sometimes fragility are shared. In heraldic contexts, 'fleur-de-lis' is more common than 'lily' in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher frequency in UK English in gardening/ horticultural contexts due to historical garden culture.
Grammar
How to Use “lily” in a Sentence
[Adj] + lily (white lily)lily + [of + NP] (lily of the valley)[Verb] + lily (to paint/praise the lily)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lily” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She wore a lovely lily-white dress to the summer fête.
American English
- The room was painted a soft, lily-white shade.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in branding (e.g., 'Lily Cosmetics') or event planning (floral arrangements).
Academic
Common in botany, horticulture, art history, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Common in gardening, floristry, and general descriptions of flowers.
Technical
Specific in botanical taxonomy (genus Lilium) and horticulture.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lily”
- Using 'lily' for any white flower (e.g., a daisy). Plural: 'lilies', not 'lilys'. Confusing 'water lily' (Nymphaeaceae) with true lily (Liliaceae).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. It can be used attributively as an adjective (e.g., lily-white) but is not a standard adjective like 'beautiful'.
It means to try unnecessarily to improve something that is already beautiful or excellent, often making it worse.
No. Many plants have 'lily' in their common name (e.g., daylily, calla lily) but belong to different botanical families. True lilies are of the genus Lilium.
The standard plural is 'lilies'.
A type of plant with large, typically fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that grow from bulbs.
Lily is usually formal to neutral, with poetic/literary use. in register.
Lily: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gild the lily”
- “lily-livered”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LILy - Like In Literature, often symbolises Love and Light.
Conceptual Metaphor
PURITY IS WHITENESS / INNOCENCE IS A DELICATE FLOWER.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary symbolic meaning of a lily in Western art?