līlək, -īˌlak, -ˌläk noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete French lilac (now lilas ), from Arabic laylak, līlak, from Persian nīlak bluish, from nīl blue, indigo, from Sanskrit nīla dark blue
1.
a. : a plant of the genus Syringa ; especially : a European shrub ( S. vulgaris ) that is often found as an escape in No. America and has cordate ovate leaves and large panicles of fragrant pink-purple flowers
b. : any of various cultivated shrubs that are derived directly or by hybridization from members of the genus Syringa (as S. vulgaris, S. persica, S. josikea, S. emodi, and S. amurensis ) and have white, pink, purple, or blue flowers
2.
a. : any of several Australian plants of the genus Melia having purple flowers ; especially : chinaberry 2
b. : blueblossom
3.
a. : a variable color averaging a moderate purple that is redder and paler than heliotrope, paler than average amethyst, and bluer and paler than cobalt violet
b. : a moderate pink to light grayish red that is very slightly lighter than corinthian pink