: a widely cultivated European shrub (Syringa vulgaris) of the olive family that has cordate ovate leaves and large panicles of fragrant pinkish-purple or white flowers
b
: a tree or shrub congeneric with the lilac
2
: a variable color averaging a moderate purple
Illustration of lilac
lilac 1a
Examples of lilac in a Sentence
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The dress was evocative of the spring season, with hues of deep purple, lilac and lavender throughout and cascading florals.—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025 Some flowering bushes such as roses, elderberry, hibiscus, and lilacs also provide edible blossoms.—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2024 Fragrant lilacs in white, light pink, lavender, deep purple, blue, and even yellow perfuming the air.—Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 The summit at Snoqualmie has already received more than 20 inches of snow in the past week.
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New graphic shows spread of spring flowers sweeping across US
On this first day of spring, lilacs and honeysuckles are beginning to show their leaves in portions of SE and SW Pennsylvania.—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lilac
Word History
Etymology
obsolete French (now lilas), from Arabic līlak, from Persian nīlak bluish, from nīl blue, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue
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