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Definition of lily of the valley
lily of the valley
Plural:lilies of the valley
lily of the valley Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A widespread woodland plant of the asparagus family, native to the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere, characterized by a pair of broad leaves and a graceful, drooping raceme of highly fragrant, bell-shaped white flowers.
Example
"The bride carried a delicate, fragrant bouquet composed entirely of lily of the valley."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite its name, it is not a true lily but belongs to the asparagus family, and all parts of the plant are highly toxic if ingested.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived as a translation of the Biblical Hebrew phrase 'shoshannat-ha-amaqim' (Song of Solomon 2:1), which was later applied by 16th-century herbalists to the European woodland plant Convallaria majalis.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lily of the valley. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lily of the valley