peace lily
- noun
- /piːs ˈlɪli/
:
lirio de paz
Examples
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I was wondering, do you have any Japanese Peace Lilies?
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The peace lily is known for its beautiful white flowers and glossy green leaves.
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Many people choose to decorate their homes with peace lilies because they are easy to care for.
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In addition to their beauty, peace lilies help purify the air by removing toxins.
Synonyms
A common houseplant with a large white or green leaf that surrounds a small flower
A tropical plant often kept indoors with white or green flower-like leaves and a sweet smell
How Resilient
4
4.9
1
3.6
- South African
1
4.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'peace lily' is compositionally transparent: 'lily' identifies a type of plant and 'peace' modifies it, suggesting a lily associated with peace or tranquility, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it is a kind of plant (often with white/serene flowers). This follows a common noun+noun naming pattern found across languages (e.g. Spanish 'lirio de la paz'), making the meaning predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Peace lily is named for its white, flag-like flower that looks a bit like a small white lily or a white flag of 'peace'. That's why people call it a peace lily and often give it to bring calm or comfort to a room.