Lily /(lĭl"y̆)/

Lil·y

Lily

n.

pl. Lilies ((lĭl"ĭz))

  1. 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. (Bot.)
  2. 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. (Bot.)
  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.
  4. A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See Royal spade, below. (Auction Bridge)

Phrases & Compounds
African lily
the blue-flowered Agapanthus umbellatus.
Atamasco lily
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
the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry.
Bourbon lily
Lilium candidum. See Illust.
Butterfly lily
Same as Mariposa lily, in the Vocabulary.
Lily beetle
a European beetle (Crioceris merdigera) which feeds upon the white lily.
Lily daffodil
a plant of the genus Narcissus, and its flower.
Lily encrinite
a fossil encrinite, esp. Encrinus liliiformis. See Encrinite.
Lily hyacinth
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
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
Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black.
Turk's-cap lily
Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, Lilium superbum.
Water lily
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.]