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Definition of laelia
laelia
/ˈliː.li.ə/
lae · li · a
Plural:laelias
laelia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
Syllables
3
• noun
1
A plant or flower of the genus Laelia, which consists of epiphytic or lithophytic orchids native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, noted for their showy, brightly colored blooms.
Example
"The botanical garden featured a stunning greenhouse exhibit dedicated entirely to laelias and their complex hybrids."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for laelia• Rhymes for laelia
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1831 by English botanist John Lindley, likely after Laelia, one of the Vestal Virgins in Roman mythology, or derived from the Roman family name Laelius.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Laelia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/laelia