[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/lily/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [L](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/l/) / lily # lily noun (a lily, lilies); also a girl's name (Lily) «lily» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A tall plant grown from a bulb, with large trumpet-shaped flowers, often white, orange or pink. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m1) 2. A water lily: a plant with round floating leaves and flowers on ponds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m2) 3. Lily is a common girl's first name; in word problems Lily is a person who has, buys or shares things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m3) 4. (formal, old) «Lily-white» means very white or, in a stiff or ironic way, completely innocent: «He is not lily-white in this matter.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m4) 5. (euphemism, old) Lilies are flowers for funerals, so «send lilies» can softly mean someone has died. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m5) 6. (casual, Cockney rhyming slang, rare) «Lily» can stand for «lily-white» (= «light» or «bright»); a pupil may never hear it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#m6) ### In the lessons In science, lilies are flowering plants with clear parts — petals, stamens with pollen and a pistil — so they are used for labelled flower diagrams. In safety, lilies are very poisonous to cats, even the pollen. In stories, frogs sit on lily pads. In maths word problems, Lily is a girl who owns the amounts: «Lily has 12 stickers». In casual talk: «Lily's mum», «at Lily's» (at Lily's house). In the exam voice: «the girl hereinafter referred to as Lily». Phrases: «water lily», «lily pad», «Easter lily», «lily-white», «gild the lily» (spoil by adding too much). ### Examples - The frog jumped from one lily pad to another. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x1) - Mum put white lilies in a vase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x2) - Lily pollen stains clothes orange. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x3) - Water lilies float on the pond. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x4) - Lilies are very poisonous to cats, so keep them away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x5) - We cut open a lily to find its stamens and pistil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x6) - Lilies grow from bulbs planted in the ground. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x7) - My friend Lily has a dog called Max. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x8) - Lily has 12 stickers and gives 4 to Sam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x9) - going to Lily's after school, she's got 3 new games (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x10) - Lily, you muppet, you've dropped half of them! (rough, friendly) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x11) - A pupil, hereinafter referred to as Lily, possesses 12 stickers and relinquishes 4; determine the quantity remaining. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x12) - The Queen gathered together the lilies. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/#x13) ### Note Plural: lilies (y → ies). As a name it has a capital: Lily. Not every plant called «lily» is a true lily (the lily of the valley and water lily are different plants). As a name it tells who owns the amounts, not what to do with them; «Lily's» can mean Lily's house. «Gild the lily» means spoil a good thing by adding more. Safety: keep lilies away from cats. ## In Jewish tradition In the Song of Songs it is a flower used in love poetry, a picture of beauty and delicacy. **Interpretation.** Tradition reads the Song of Songs as a love story between God and Israel. The lily among thorns is Israel, lovely among the nations. ### Examples - I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. (Writings SNG.2.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lily/#x1) - As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. (Writings SNG.2.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lily/#x2) - My beloved is mine, and I am his, that feedeth among the lilies. (Writings SNG.2.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lily/#x3) ### Note Plural: lilies (y → ies). As a name it has a capital: Lily. Not every plant called «lily» is a true lily (the lily of the valley and water lily are different plants). As a name it tells who owns the amounts, not what to do with them; «Lily's» can mean Lily's house. «Gild the lily» means spoil a good thing by adding more. Safety: keep lilies away from cats. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «lily» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lily/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lily» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lily.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «lily» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/L/lily/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«lily» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/lily.html) on Mova free.