lily-pad
Definition
- Noun:
- A floating leaf of a water lily: "lily-pad" refers to the large, round, flat leaf of a water lily plant, which floats on the surface of still or slow-moving water. It is typically green and sometimes has a notch where the stem attaches.
Usage Examples
- (The frog perched on the floating leaf of a water lily.)
- (The pond's surface was filled with the flat leaves of water lilies.)
Advanced Usage
- "to sit on a lily-pad": to be in a position of calm or retreat, often used metaphorically.
- After a stressful week, he felt like a frog sitting on a lily-pad, enjoying the peace. (He felt relaxed and detached from worries, like a frog on a floating leaf.)
Variants and Related Words
Lily pad (n): a variant spelling without the hyphen, meaning the same thing.
- She painted a beautiful scene with green lily pads and pink flowers. (She depicted the floating leaves of water lilies in her artwork.)
Water lily (n): the aquatic plant that produces lily-pads.
- The water lily bloomed in the centre of the pond, surrounded by its lily-pads. (The plant's flowers and leaves were together on the water.)
Synonyms
- Floating leaf: a leaf that rests on the water's surface.
- Pond leaf: a leaf commonly found in ponds (less specific).
Related Idioms
- "like a frog on a lily-pad": describing someone who is perfectly still or patient, waiting for an opportunity.
- He waited like a frog on a lily-pad for the job offer to come through. (He remained calm and patient, ready to act when the opportunity arose.)