tiger lily: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialized/Infrequent)neutral, gardening, botanical, literary
Quick answer
What does “tiger lily” mean?
A tall garden lily (Lilium lancifolium) with nodding orange flowers marked with black or purple spots.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall garden lily (Lilium lancifolium) with nodding orange flowers marked with black or purple spots.
1. A large, showy orange and black-spotted flower; often used for decoration. 2. The specific plant species Lilium lancifolium. 3. A generic term for other lily varieties with similar spotted, trumpet-shaped flowers, such as Lilium pardalinum. 4. Can refer symbolically to something that is strikingly beautiful yet potentially wild or dangerous, evoking the tiger's attributes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Refers to the same botanical species. Spelling 'lily' is consistent. American gardening catalogs may list more cultivars.
Connotations
Shared connotations of exotic beauty and striking appearance. In British gardening contexts, it might be seen as a more traditional cottage garden plant.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American gardening contexts due to the native range of Lilium pardalinum (leopard lily) in western North America, which is sometimes colloquially called 'tiger lily'.
Grammar
How to Use “tiger lily” in a Sentence
grow [tiger lilies]arrange [tiger lilies] in a vasethe [tiger lily's] spotsa bouquet of [tiger lilies]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tiger lily” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The garden will tiger lily in late summer.
- We plan to tiger lily that border next spring.
American English
- The garden will tiger lily in late summer.
- We're going to tiger lily that bed next year.
adverb
British English
- [Not standard. No common adverbial use.]
American English
- [Not standard. No common adverbial use.]
adjective
British English
- She preferred a tiger-lily colour scheme.
- The arrangement had a distinct tiger-lily aesthetic.
American English
- She preferred a tiger lily color scheme.
- The arrangement had a distinct tiger lily aesthetic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in floristry or horticulture business contexts (e.g., 'We source tiger lily bulbs from certified growers').
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, and plant biology papers to refer to Lilium lancifolium or related species.
Everyday
Used in gardening conversations, when describing flowers in a garden or bouquet.
Technical
In botanical taxonomy: Lilium lancifolium. In horticulture: refers to specific cultivars, planting zones, and bulb propagation techniques.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “tiger lily”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “tiger lily”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tiger lily”
- Misspelling as 'tigger lily'.
- Using 'tiger lily' as a common name for any orange lily, which may be botanically inaccurate.
- Treating it as two separate words without a hyphen in compound adjective form (e.g., 'tiger-lily bouquet' is often hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, to cats. All parts of the plant are highly toxic to felines and can cause kidney failure. They are not generally toxic to humans or dogs, though ingestion may cause mild stomach upset.
They typically bloom in mid to late summer, often after many other spring bulbs have finished flowering.
They prefer full sun to partial shade. They will produce fewer flowers in deep shade.
Common symbolism includes wealth, pride, and confidence due to their bold appearance. In some cultures, they also symbolise prosperity and good fortune.
A tall garden lily (Lilium lancifolium) with nodding orange flowers marked with black or purple spots.
Tiger lily is usually neutral, gardening, botanical, literary in register.
Tiger lily: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪɡə ˈlɪli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtaɪɡər ˈlɪli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms directly using 'tiger lily'. The concept may appear in poetic metaphors.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a TIGER wearing a LILY behind its ear. The flower's orange and black spots look like a tiger's stripes.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEAUTY IS WILD/DANGEROUS (The attractive flower is metaphorically linked to the dangerous tiger through its name and spotted appearance).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary botanical species referred to by 'tiger lily'?