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.
Phrases and idioms:
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.
Derivatives:
lilied adj.
Etymology: OE lilie f. L lilium prob. f. Gk leirion
Useful english dictionary. 2012.