Lilac
adj, name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
- 1 A large shrub of the genus Syringa, especially Syringa vulgaris, bearing white, pale-pink, or purple flowers.
"Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines."
- 2 any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers wordnet
- 3 A flower of the lilac shrub.
"[…] O death, I cover you over with roses and early lilies, / But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first, / Copious I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes, / With loaded arms I come, pouring for you, / For you and the coffins all of you O death."
- 4 A pale purple color, the color of some lilac flowers.
- 5 A cat having a lilac-colored (pale brown) coat.
- 1 Having a pale purple colour.
- 2 Of a cat or its fur: having a pale brown colour, lighter than chocolate.
- 1 of a pale purple color wordnet
- 1 A female given name from English.
""Lilac Kingsmith," I said. "What a neat name.""
Example
More examples"My mother loved lilac bushes so I planted some outside her door."
Etymology
From obsolete French lilac (now lilas), from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak).
From lilac.