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Definition of calla lily

calla lily

Plural:calla lilies
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• noun

1

A bulbous perennial plant of the genus Zantedeschia, native to southern Africa, widely cultivated for its large, showy, funnel-shaped spathe (most classically white) that surrounds a prominent yellow spadix.

Example

"The bride walked down the aisle carrying an elegant, minimalist bouquet of white calla lilies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for calla lily

Word Nuance & Usage

Despite its common name, the calla lily is neither a true lily (family Liliaceae) nor a true Calla (genus Calla), but rather belongs to the genus Zantedeschia within the arum family.

• Nearby Words

call
call time
calla
calla lily
callable
callaloo
callback

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Calla lily. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/calla-lily
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