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Glite Dictionary
mariposa lily

mariposa lily

9.1
A wild flower with three petals that looks like a small butterfly
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛrɪˈpoʊsə ˈlɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lirio mariposa
  • Gardeners admire the mariposa lily for its delicate, butterfly-shaped blossoms.

Examples

  • A single mariposa lily stood out against the dry grassland.

  • The mariposa lily blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • The hills were covered with blooming mariposa lilies in early spring.

  • Many mariposa lilies grow in the deserts of Arizona.

  • The mariposa lily blooms in vibrant colors during the spring in the desert regions.

  • I was amazed to see the mariposa lily with its unique tulip-shaped flowers on our hike.

  • In the garden, the mariposa lily stands out for its delicate petals and striking appearance.

Synonyms

mariposa
vsmariposa lily
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A wild flower with tulip-shaped petals that grows in the southwestern United States and Mexico

is used for a single species within the genus rather than the whole group
mariposa tulip
vsmariposa lily
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild flower from the southwestern United States and Mexico with cup-shaped petals like a small tulip

means the same but simply uses the other common name form
Calochortus
vsmariposa lily
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of bulb plants with bright, tulip-like flowers from western North America

is a single plant within that genus rather than the whole taxonomic group

Surface Forms

mariposa lily singular
mariposa lilies plural

Morphology

mariposa + lily

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound naming a variety of lily: if a learner knows 'mariposa' (given here as a type of flowering plant) and 'lily', they can infer it denotes a kind of lily with characteristic flowers. The meaning follows ordinary compounding/nominal modification patterns rather than an idiomatic shift, so it is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Mariposa lily gets its name from the Spanish word mariposa, which means 'butterfly', because the petals open and look like a little butterfly. The word lily shows it is a flower, so the name helps you picture its butterfly-shaped bloom.