Meaning & use
river lily
Last updated
UK/ˈrɪvə ˌlɪli/
US/ˈrɪvər ˌlɪli/
Meaning
nouncountablebiology
A plant with large, showy flowers that grows in or beside rivers and other water.
Grammar: Countable: one river lily, two river lilies.
Patterns
- a river lily
- river lilies
River lilies lined the banks of the slow-moving stream.
In spring, the river lily opens its pink flowers above the water.
Word forms
| plural | river lilies |
|---|
Common combinations
- wild river lily
- We saw a wild river lily growing among the reeds.
- river lily bulbs
- She planted river lily bulbs in the shallow pond.
- river lily flower
- The river lily flower is a favorite of bees.
Synonyms and how they differ
- water lily
- A more general name for lilies that float on water; 'river lily' is usually a specific species that grows along banks.
- lotus
- A different plant, often sacred in Asia; its flowers and leaves are similar but it is not the same as a river lily.
Word family
- lily noun
- A plant with large, trumpet-shaped flowers; 'river lily' is one type.
Commonly confused: river lily or water lily?
river lily vs water lily
Water lilies usually float on the surface of ponds and lakes, while river lilies typically grow rooted in the bank or shallow water along a river.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'river lily' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A river lily is a plant, so it grows along the riverbank. It is not a fish, bird, or mineral.
Make it your own
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