Easter lily

American  

noun

1. any of several white-flowered lilies that are artificially brought into bloom in early spring, especially Lilium longiflorum eximium, native to Taiwan and widely cultivated.

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Easter lily British  

noun

1. any of various lilies, esp Lilium longiflorum, that have large showy white flowers

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Etymology

Origin of Easter lily

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Startled first-nighters saw the heroine clad as half nun and half Easter lily, her duenna completely faceless, another nun headless and one tavern character with two heads.

From Time Magazine Archive

Like most of the others, Tony is growing the Croft, a white, sturdy, strong-stemmed Easter lily that multiplies at the rate of 150 bulbs from one bulb a season, will grow 20,000 to the acre.

From Time Magazine Archive

The papers that Elis brought in the First Act are on the writing table in a disorderly condition, the Easter lily stands on sewing table.

From Plays: Comrades; Facing Death; Pariah; Easter by Oland, Warner

As Lloyd went on, telling of the times she had failed and times she had succeeded, Mary felt as if she were listening to the confessions of a white Easter lily.

From The Little Colonel: Maid of Honor by Barry, Etheldred B. (Etheldred Breeze)

He picked up an Easter lily which Geneviève had brought that morning from Notre Dame, and dropped it into the basin.

From The King in Yellow by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)