water lily

noun

1. any of various aquatic plants of the genus Nymphaea, species of which have large, disklike, floating leaves and showy flowers, especially N. odorata, of America, or N. alba, of Europe. Compare water lily family.
2. any related plant of the genus Nuphar.
3. a plant of the water lily family.
4. the flower of any such plant.

water lily

noun

1. any of various aquatic plants of the genus Nymphaea and related genera, of temperate and tropical regions, having large leaves and showy flowers that float on the surface of the water: family Nymphaeaceae
2. any of various similar and related plants, such as the yellow water lily

Word History and Origins

Origin of water lily¹

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

There is some food aid, but many in the area survive by foraging for water lily roots and fish to supplement their rations.

From BBC

While down in those murky depths he was harvesting the seeds of a type of water lily called euryale ferox.

From BBC

He's holding a picture that shows how the lake used to look, with much of it covered with water lilies.

From BBC

A Claude Monet painting of water lilies on a pond in Giverny, France, is up for auction at the Christie’s auction house in November and will fetch at least $65 million.

From Washington Times

The most iconic aquatic plant associated with the ancient Maya is the water lily, Nymphaea ampla, which thrives only in clean water, Lucero said.

From Science Daily

More About Water Lily

What does water lily mean?

A water lily is a freshwater plant with floating leaves (known as lily pads) and a solitary flower.

The flower itself is also often called a water lily. They are fragrant and can be white, pink, or yellow.

The water lily family (Nymphaeaceae) includes many different species that are referred to as water lilies. The similar lotus is a member of the water lily family.

Water lilies are commonly cultivated as ornamental plants in garden ponds.

The water lily is one of the July birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).

Example: I read that having water lilies in the pond will attract frogs.

Where does water lily come from?

The first records of the name water lily come from the mid-1500s. It’s so-named because it’s an aquatic (water) plant and its flower resembles the lily (though water lilies do not belong to the lily family).

Water lilies are native to the tropics. Although they appear to be floating, they are rooted into the mud underneath the water. Water lilies are thought to provide several benefits to their native environments, including preventing the overproduction of algae.

Did you know … ?

What are some synonyms for water lily?

• lily pad (when referring to the whole plant)

What are some words that share a root or word element with water lily? 

• water
• lily

What are some words that often get used in discussing water lily?

• aquatic
• plant
• white
• pink
• yellow
• lotus

How is water lily used in real life?

Water lilies are common in garden ponds as well as in the wild. They’re floating leaves are called lily pads, a term which can also be used to refer to the entire plant.

I got a gift from Mother Nature today. Three water lily blooms in my pond. They always surprise me. They pop up overnight. pic.twitter.com/W68rV1ftWZ

— edward 🌈 (@edw_luvs_books) May 5, 2021

The Water Lily is the birth flower for #July along with the Larkspur. It symbolises all that is good, true & beautiful, bringing good fortune & peace. Some of Monet’s Water Lily #paintings depicting his garden at Giverny from 1890s to 1926. pic.twitter.com/toOa0cAbqT

— Maude Frome (@frome_maude) July 14, 2020

So far my new pond has gifted me with a resident tree frog (who is eeping as I type this), dragonflies mating and laying eggs, and this Water Lily flower. I am now a pond evangelist. pic.twitter.com/ZUsLPYWKJt

— Get To Know Nature (@GetToKnowNature) July 3, 2019

Try using water lily!

True or False?

Water lilies just float in the water without being rooted down.