Definition of Lily

Lil´y   Pronunciation: lĭl´ŷ
n.1.(Bot.) A plant and flower of the genus Lilium, endogenous bulbous plants, having a regular perianth of six colored pieces, six stamens, and a superior three-celled ovary.
2.(Bot.) A name given to handsome flowering plants of several genera, having some resemblance in color or form to a true lily, as Pancratium, Crinum, Amaryllis, Nerine, etc.
3.That end of a compass needle which should point to the north; - so called as often ornamented with the figure of a lily or fleur-de-lis.
But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west.
- Sir T. Browne.
4.(Auction Bridge) A royal spade; - usually in pl. See Royal spade, below.
African lily
(Bot.) the blue-flowered Agapanthus umbellatus.
Atamasco lily
(Bot.) a plant of the genus Zephyranthes (Zephyranthes Atamasco), having a white and pink funnelform perianth, with six petal-like divisions resembling those of a lily.
Blackberry lily
(Bot.) the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry.
- Gray.
Bourbon lily
(Bot.) Lilium candidum. See Illust.
Butterfly lily
(Bot.) Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary.
Lily beetle
(Zool.) a European beetle (Crioceris merdigera) which feeds upon the white lily.
Lily daffodil
(Bot.) a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower.
Lily encrinite
(Paleon.) a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite.
Lily hyacinth
(Bot.) a plant of the genus Hyacinthus.
Lily iron
a kind of harpoon with a detachable head of peculiar shape, used in capturing swordfish.
Lily of the valley
(Bot.) a low perennial herb (Convallaria majalis), having a raceme of nodding, fragrant, white flowers.
Lily pad
the large floating leaf of the water lily.
Tiger lily
(Bot.) Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black.
- Lowell.
Turk's-cap lily
(Bot.) Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, Lilium superbum.
Water lily
(Bot.) the Nymphæa, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphæa.]


Related Words

Annunciation lily, Bermuda lily, Canada lily, coast lily, Columbia tiger lily, devil lily, Easter lily, genus Lilium, kentan, Lent lily, leopard lily, liliaceous plant, Lilium, Lilium auratum, Lilium canadense, Lilium candidum, Lilium catesbaei, Lilium columbianum, Lilium lancifolium, Lilium longiflorum, Lilium maritinum, Lilium martagon, Lilium michiganense, Lilium pardalinum, Lilium philadelphicum, Lilium superbum, Madonna lily, martagon, meadow lily, Michigan lily, mountain lily, Oregon lily, panther lily, pine lily, tiger lily, Turk's cap-lily, Turk's-cap, white lily, white trumpet lily, wild meadow lily, wild yellow lily, wood lily

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Likeness
Likerous
Likewise
Likin
Liking
Lilac
Lilacin
Liliaceous
Lilial
Lilied
Liliidae
liliopsid
Liliopsida
Lilith
Lilium
Lill
Lilliputian
Lilly-pilly
Lilt
lilting
Lily beetle
Lily daffodil
Lily encrinite
Lily hyacinth
Lily iron
Lily of the valley
Lily pad
Lily-handed
Lily-livered
lilyturf
Lilywort
Lim
Lim naea
Lima
Lima bean
Lima wood
Limaceous
Limacina
LimaCon
Limaille
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