Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Origin: Early French, from Arabic lilak, from Persian nilak 'bluish', from nil 'blue'

lilac

 noun
     
Related topics: Colours, Gardening, Plants
li‧lac
1 [countable]HBPDLG a small tree with pale purple or white flowers
2 [uncountable]CC a pale purple colour [= mauve]
—lilac adjective:
a lilac dress
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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