lily -
n. (pl. -ies)
1 a any bulbous plant of the genus Lilium with large trumpet-shaped often spotted flowers on a
tall slender stem, e.g. the madonna
lily and tiger
lily. b any of several other plants of the family Liliaceae with
similar flowers, e.g. the African
lily. c the water
lily.
2 a person or thing of special whiteness or purity.
3 a
heraldic fleur-de-lis.
4 (attrib.) a delicately white (a
lily hand). b pallid.
lily-livered cowardly. lily of the valley any liliaceous plant of the genus Convallaria, with oval leaves in pairs and racemes of white bell-shaped fragrant flowers. lily-pad a floating leaf of a water lily. lily-white 1 as white as a lily.
2 faultless.
lilied adj. [OE lilie f. L lilium prob. f. Gk leirion]
