trillium

[ tril-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Trillium, of the lily family, having a whorl of three leaves from the center of which rises a solitary, three-petalled flower.

trillium

/ ˈtrɪljəm /

noun

1. any herbaceous plant of the genus Trillium , of Asia and North America, having a whorl of three leaves at the top of the stem with a single central white, pink, or purple three-petalled flower: family Trilliaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillium¹

< New Latin (Linnaeus), apparently alteration of Swedish trilling triplet, alluding to the foliation

Word History and Origins

Origin of trillium¹

C18: from New Latin, modification by Linnaeus of Swedish trilling triplet

Example Sentences

Flowering cherry trees and trilliums are some of the first hints that the Northwest is shifting from its chilly mood to a more hospitable demeanor.

From Seattle Times

Ella riffled through the cabinet of herbs, eyes scanning over all the little drawers of dried roots and plants, the labels in Latin: trillium grandiflorum, viburnum, eugenia pimenta, and so on.

From Literature

Stop to catch your breath and admire the trillium blooming along the trailside.

From Seattle Times

After being freed from their vines, nine oaks now shelter two kinds of camas, plus alliums, trillium, red flowering currant and more, among prairie grasses.

From Seattle Times

April to early May is the earliest you might expect to see skunk cabbage, coltsfoot and trillium blooming around Longmire, in the Mount Rainier National Park’s southwest corner.

From Seattle Times