lily

/'lili/

Thân thiện

A white lily blooms in a sunny garden.

Definition

Noun 1. A flowering plant: A plant belonging to the genus Lilium, characterized by large, often fragrant, trumpet-shaped or bell-shaped flowers that typically hang down (are pendulous). These plants grow from bulbs. 2. The flower of this plant: The showy, colorful bloom of a lily plant, commonly used in gardens and as cut flowers. 3. A symbol of purity and innocence: In many cultures, particularly the white lily, is a traditional symbol of purity, virtue, and innocence.

Usage and Examples

• As a garden plant:
• Referring to the flower:
• Symbolic use:

Advanced Usage

• "Gild the lily": This idiom means to try to improve something that is already beautiful or excellent, often resulting in excess. It is considered unnecessary or even detrimental.
  • Adding more decorations to that already perfect cake would be to gild the lily.

Variants and Related Words

• Lily-like (adj.): Resembling a lily in appearance, especially in whiteness or delicacy.
  • She had lily-like hands.
• Lily-white (adj.):
  • Pure white in color.

    • A lily-white tablecloth.
  • (Figuratively) Completely pure, innocent, or free from corruption (can sometimes be used critically).

    • He tried to maintain a lily-white reputation.

Note on "Lily of the Valley": This is a separate plant (Convallaria majalis) with small, bell-shaped, fragrant white flowers. It is not a true lily (genus Lilium) but shares the common name due to the shape of its flowers.

Synonyms

• Bloom (specifically for the flower)
• Bulb (for the plant type, though this is a broader category)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To be as pure as the driven snow / a lily: To be morally pure and innocent.
  • In the story, the heroine is portrayed as being as pure as a lily.

Học thuật

Noun

1. any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers