snow lily
- noun
- /snoʊ ˈlɪli/
- US
:
lirio de nieve
- The snow lily is known for its delicate yellow petals and slender leaves.
Examples
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We saw a cluster of snow lilies blooming near the creek in late spring.
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Many snow lilies can be found in the Rocky Mountains.
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Hikers often take photographs of the beautiful snow lily in the mountains.
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The snow lily blooms in early spring.
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Hikers often take photographs of the beautiful snow lily in the mountains.
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The snow lily is known for its delicate yellow petals and slender leaves.
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We saw a cluster of snow lilies blooming near the creek in late spring.
Synonyms
1
9.3
A small woodland plant with early spring flowers and broad leaves
A wild spring flower with bright yellow petals that grows in western North America
A small plant with bright yellow flowers that grows near melting snow in high mountains
A small spring flower that grows from a bulb and often has spotted leaves
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'snow lily' is compositionally predictable: a B1 learner who knows 'snow' and 'lily' will infer it is a type of lily associated with snow or early spring flowering. Botanical specifics (that it is a dogtooth violet, not a true lily) are specialist knowledge, but the general plant meaning is transparently derived from its constituents.
Etymology
Snow lily gets its name from the way the flower appears in the mountains: its yellow blooms push up through melting snow, and the shape looks like a lily. So today snow lily means 'a bright yellow mountain flower' that often blooms as the snow goes away.