Lily

n. pl. Lilies (lĭl"ĭz).
  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.
  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.
  4. (Auction Bridge) A royal spade; -- usually in pl. See Royal spade, below.
    5. 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.
    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.
    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 Nymphæa, a plant with floating roundish leaves, and large flowers having many petals, usually white, but sometimes pink, red, blue, or yellow. [See Illust. of Nymphæa.]