'Lilies' definitions:

Definition of 'Lilies'

From: GCIDE
  • Lily \Lil"y\ (l[i^]l"[y^]), n.; pl. Lilies (l[i^]l"[i^]z). [AS. lilie, L. lilium, Gr. lei`rion. Cf. Flower-de-luce.]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: There are nearly fifty species, all found in the North Temperate zone. Lilium candidum and {Lilium longiflorum} are the common white lilies of gardens; Lilium Philadelphicum is the wild red lily of the Atlantic States. Lilium Chalcedonicum is supposed to be the "lily of the field" in our Lord's parable; Lilium auratum is the great gold-banded lily of Japan. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • But sailing further, it veers its lily to the west. --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Auction Bridge) A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See Royal spade, below. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 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. --Gray.
  • Blackberry lily (Bot.), the Pardanthus Chinensis, the black seeds of which form a dense mass like a blackberry.
  • 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. [U. S.] --Lowell.
  • Tiger lily (Bot.), Lilium tigrinum, the sepals of which are blotched with black.
  • Turk's-cap lily (Bot.) Lilium Martagon, a red lily with recurved sepals; also, the similar American lily, {Lilium superbum}.
  • Water lily (Bot.), the Nymph[ae]a, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymph[ae]a.] [1913 Webster]

Words containing 'Lilies'