[ noun ] any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers <noun.plant>
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.
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.
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.
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. --Sir T. Browne.
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}.]
She also makes some good visual jokes with the unusual set, for example, posing Millamant beside a pillar to which the white lily has been tied, and using the actors' cigarette smoke to symbolise their dissemblance.
Mr. Sarfaty reiterated his belief that Mr. Garamendi's conditions for the bid were "gilding the lily," but said the organization was making every effort to meet Mr. Garamendi's challenges.
"We're really a lily white community," Sadler said.
Gilding the lily, empty calories and all that.
Yuppie gardeners want unusual, high-quality plants, he says, and White Flower Farms offers such prizes as a new day lily called Mallard in a "rich and strong" shade of red for $12.95.
The bulbs did as well as on a Dutch lily farm.
He finally wound up in a Dioresque whirl of strapless ball gowns with tulle petticoats, wrapped sable stoles and jackets, plus huge organza bows, and bouquets of lily of the valley _ a favorite at Dior.
Half a dozen small children were walking down the main street in single file, each holding a peace lily and solemnly staring ahead.
The average Southerner, the kind the party leaders here hope will vote for their ticket, tend to eschew Mr. Carter's tippets in favor of Trilene 20-pound test that lets you yank them 8-pound hawg bass out of the milfoil and lily pads.