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Definition of gilia
gilia
/ˈdʒɪl.i.ə/
gi · li · a
Plural:gilias
gilia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American Any of various plants of the genus Gilia in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae), native primarily to western North and South America, characterized by finely divided leaves and clusters of showy, bell-shaped or funnel-shaped flowers.
Example
"While hiking through the Mojave Desert in early spring, we spotted a vibrant patch of blue gilias blooming among the rocks."
• Rhymes for gilia
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1794 by Spanish botanists Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez in honor of Felipe Gil, an 18th-century Spanish botanist.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gilia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gilia