# lily

/ˈɫɪɫi/ (US) · /lˈɪli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lily
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the flower

noun · CEFR A2

a large, bell-shaped flower that grows from a bulb and often has a very sweet smell.

For teachers: any of several large, showy flowers in the genus Lilium, typically characterized by six petals and a prominent fragrance.

- She put a vase of white lilies on the dining table for the party.
- The florist recommended water lilies for the pond, noting their ability to provide shade for the fish during the peak of summer.

### 2. a person's name

noun · CEFR A2

a common name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: a female given name derived from the flower, which saw a significant resurgence in popularity in the early twenty-first century.

- Lily is starting her new job at the hospital next Monday.
- Lily was named after her great-grandmother, following a long-standing family tradition of using botanical names for the first-born daughters.

### 3. heraldry symbol

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a symbol shaped like a flower used on old flags or family shields.

For teachers: a stylized flower used as a heraldic charge, frequently associated with the fleur-de-lis in French royalty.

- The king's shield was decorated with a gold lily on a blue background.
- The architectural frieze featured a repeating pattern of the heraldic lily, signifying the building's historical connection to the monarchy.

### 4. skin colour

adjective · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar · Dialect

a word used to describe very white skin, sometimes in a mean way.

For teachers: a racial epithet or derogatory descriptor for white skin; often used in the compound 'lily-white'.

- He was described as having a lily-white complexion that burned easily in the sun.
- The critic attacked the film for its lily-white cast, arguing that it failed to represent the actual diversity of the city.

## Examples

- She planted a white lily in the center of her garden.
- The florist suggested a bouquet of lilies because their fragrance would fill the entire room during the wedding reception.
- The artist spent years perfecting the delicate translucency of the lily petals, attempting to capture how the morning light filtered through their waxy surface.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.