sword lily

7.1

A tall garden plant with long narrow leaves and bright flower spikes

noun
/sɔrd ˈlɪli/

: gladiolo

The sword lily adds vibrant color to summer gardens with its tall, graceful spikes of flowers.

Examples

Gardeners often plant sword lilies for their dramatic foliage and long-lasting flowers.
She arranged a bouquet of sword lilies for the dining table, their blooms opening in the afternoon sunlight.
The sword lily blooms beautifully in the summer.
I planted several sword lilies in my garden.
Gardeners often plant sword lilies for their dramatic foliage and long-lasting flowers.
The sword lily adds vibrant color to summer gardens with its tall, graceful spikes of flowers.
She arranged a bouquet of sword lilies for the dining table, their blooms opening in the afternoon sunlight.

Synonyms

gladiola

vssword lily

2 6.3

A garden flower with long sword-shaped leaves and bright flowers on a tall stem

gives a neutral identification focusing on appearance rather than cultivation

glad

vssword lily

1 9.1

A tall garden flower with long stems and bright flowers used in arrangements

highlights long narrow leaves as a botanical feature rather than cultivation

gladiolus

vssword lily

7.9

A tall garden flower that has long sword-shaped leaves and bright flowers in tall spikes

focuses on general appearance without mentioning native origin

Surface Forms

sword lily singular

sword lilies plural

Morphology

sword + lily

The compound is clearly descriptive: 'sword' modifies 'lily' to indicate a lily with sword-shaped leaves. This is a compositional noun–noun pattern that directly signals a physical characteristic, so a B1 learner who knows 'sword' and 'lily' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Sword lily is named for the plant's long, flat leaves that look like a sword and its bright flower called a lily. Its Latin name means 'little sword', so the name points to the plant's sword-shaped leaves and tall flower spikes.