lilac

/ˈlaɪlæk/

/ˈlaɪlæk/

Other forms: lilacs

Definitions of lilac

1. noun

   any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
   types:

   Himalayan lilac, Syringa emodi

   robust upright shrub of mountains of northern India having oblong-elliptic leaves and pale lilac or white malodorous flowers

   Hungarian lilac, Syringa josikaea, Syringa josikea

   central European upright shrub having elliptic leaves and upright clusters of lilac or deep violet flowers

   Persian lilac, Syringa persica

   small densely branching Asiatic shrub having lanceolate leaves and panicles of fragrant lilac flowers

   Japanese tree lilac, Syringa amurensis japonica, Syringa reticulata

   small tree of Japan having narrow pointed leaves and creamy-white flowers

   Japanese lilac, Syringa villosa

   lilac of northern China having ovate leaves and profuse early summer rose-lilac flowers

   Syringa vulgaris, common lilac

   large European lilac naturalized in North America having heart-shaped ovate leaves and large panicles of highly fragrant lilac or white flowers

   type of:

   bush, shrub

   a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
2. adjective

   of a pale purple color
   synonyms: lavender, lilac-colored

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue