How Do You Spell LILY?

Pronunciation: [lˈɪli] (IPA)

The word "lily" is spelled with four letters; L, I, L, Y. Each letter has a specific phonetic sound that contributes to the overall pronunciation. According to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription, the word "lily" is pronounced as /ˈlɪli/. This means that the 'L' is pronounced as the voiceless alveolar lateral approximant, the 'I' is pronounced as the short lax vowel, and the 'Y' is pronounced as the voiced palatal approximant. The word "lily" is commonly used to describe a beautiful flower with delicate petals.

LILY Meaning and Definition

  1. A lily is a type of flowering plant that belongs to the Liliaceae family and the genus Lilium. It is characterized by its large, showy, and often fragrant flowers, which typically have six petal-like tepals. Lilies are herbaceous perennials, meaning they have a non-woody stem that dies back in winter and regrows each spring.

    Lilies can be found growing in a wide range of habitats, including temperate forest floors, meadows, marshes, and mountain slopes. They are native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere but have been widely cultivated and naturalized in many other parts of the world.

    The flowers of lilies come in various colors, including white, yellow, orange, pink, and red, with a wide array of patterns and markings. Some popular species of lilies include the Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum), the tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium), and the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum).

    Lilies have a rich cultural and symbolic significance, often associated with purity, beauty, and rebirth. They are commonly used in gardens, cut flower arrangements, and religious ceremonies. Additionally, various parts of the lily plant have been used for their medicinal properties, particularly in traditional herbal medicine.

    Overall, lilies are admired for their stunning blooms, diverse colors, and delightful fragrance, making them a beloved choice among gardeners and flower enthusiasts worldwide.

  2. A beautiful flowering plant of many species.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for LILY *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for LILY

Etymology of LILY

The word lily has its origins in Old English, where it was spelled as lilie. It was borrowed from Latin, where it was known as lilium, ultimately deriving from the Greek word leirion. The Greek term was used to refer to the plant genus lilium. The etymology of leirion is uncertain, but it may have originated from an ancient Egyptian word for lotus or white lily.

Idioms with the word LILY

  • gild the lily To "gild the lily" is an idiom that means to unnecessarily add extra decoration or enhancement to something that is already beautiful, excellent, or perfect. It implies attempting to improve or enhance something that is already ideal but does not require any further modifications.
  • shake the dew off the lily The idiom "shake the dew off the lily" typically means to shake off any sense of innocence or naivety, to become more experienced or worldly. It is often used to describe someone shedding their naïve or innocent perceptions and adopting a more realistic or mature perspective.
  • paint the lily The idiom "paint the lily" means to unnecessarily try to improve or enhance something that is already beautiful, perfect, or impressive. It refers to the excessive or redundant act of adding decoration, embellishment, or further refinement to something that cannot be improved any further.
  • lily-white The idiom "lily-white" is used to describe something or someone that is completely pure, innocent, or uncontaminated, often referring to moral purity, honesty, or racial purity.
  • lily-livered The idiom "lily-livered" is used to describe someone who is cowardly, weak, or lacking courage. It originated from the belief that the liver, specifically the liver of a coward, was pale or white like a lily. As a metaphor, it suggests that the person lacks bravery or resolve.
  • knock the dew off the lily To improve or refine something that is already very good, typically through a small and unnecessary adjustment.

Similar spelling words for LILY

Plural form of LILY is LILIES

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