What is "water lily"

Lily \Lil"y\ (l[i^]l"[y^]), n.; pl. Lilies (l[i^]l"[i^]z).

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.

   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.

Water lily \Wa"ter lil`y\ (Bot.) A blossom or plant of any species of the genus Nymph[ae]a, distinguished for its large floating leaves and beautiful flowers. See Nymph[ae]a.

Note: The name is extended to various plants of other related genera, as Nuphar, Euryale, Nelumbo, and Victoria. See Euryale, Lotus, and Victoria, 1.

alt. 1 Any of various members of the ''(taxlink Nymphaeaceae family noshow=1)'' family that are tuberous plants, rooted in soil with leaves (lily pads) and flowers floating on the water surface. 2 Species of genus (taxlink Nymphoides genus noshow=1), the (vern fringed water lily pedia=1) and similar plants. 3 Species of genus ''Nelumbo''. n. 1 Any of various members of the ''(taxlink Nymphaeaceae family noshow=1)'' family that are tuberous plants, rooted in soil with leaves (lily pads) and flowers floating on the water surface. 2 Species of genus (taxlink Nymphoides genus noshow=1), the (vern fringed water lily pedia=1) and similar plants. 3 Species of genus ''Nelumbo''.

n. an aquatic plant of the family Nymphaeaceae

Water Lily or Water Lilies may refer to:

in aquatic plants:

• Members of family Nymphaeaceae
• Formerly, members of the genus Nelumbo (the genus to which lotus belong to)
• Some members of the genus Nymphoides

in '''other uses: '''

• Water Lilies, a series of paintings by Claude Monet
• Water Lilies (film), a 2007 French film
• Waterlillies, a musical group
• Waterlily (novel), a novel by Ella Cara Deloria
• Water Lily Acoustics, a record label