Lilac Meaning
/ˈlaɪlək/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA large shrub of the genus Syringa, especially Syringa vulgaris, bearing white, pale-pink, or purple flowers.
nounA flower of the lilac shrub.
Sentence Examples
My mother loved lilac bushes so I planted some outside her door.
The color of lilac is named after the lilac flower.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The sweet-smelling purple flowers in the garden were from a tall ____ bush.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden was filled with the sweet scent of ____ flowers that were blooming in the warm spring sunshine.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *neyH-der.? Sanskrit नील॑ (nī́la)der. Middle Persian 𐭭𐭩𐭫 (nīl) Classical Persian نِیل (nīl) Middle Persian 𐭪 (k /-ak/) Classical Persian ـَک (-ak) Classical Persian لِیلَک (līlak)bor. Arabic لِيلَك (līlak)bor. French lilacbor. English lilac From obsolete French lilac (now lilas), from Arabic لِيلَك (līlak).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168:
"[…] 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."
— 1865, Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps: When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d and other poems:
""Lilac Kingsmith," I said. "What a neat name.""
— 1989, Barbara Corcoran, The Potato Kid, page 23:
"As he worked he said conversationally: ‘You’re Lilac Larkin, ain’t you? I reckernise you from your photograph.’"
— 1993, Katie Flynn, The Girl from Penny Lane, page 291:
"Lilac Devere looked at her elderly maiden aunt and sighed."
— 1997, Dara Joy, Rejar, page 11:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The sweet-smelling purple flowers in the garden were from a tall ____ bush.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The garden was filled with the sweet scent of ____ flowers that were blooming in the warm spring sunshine.