lilac Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers
  2. adjective satellite of a pale purple color
    lilac-colored; lavender.

WordNet

Li"lac noun
Etymology
Sp. lilac, lila, Ar.lilak, fr. Per. lilaj, lilanj, lilang, nilaj, nil, the indigo plant, or from the kindred lilak bluish, the flowers being named from the color. Cf. Anil.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A shrub of the genus Syringa. There are six species, natives of Europe and Asia. Syringa vulgaris, the common lilac, and S. Persica, the Persian lilac, are frequently cultivated for the fragrance and beauty of their purplish or white flowers. In the British colonies various other shrubs have this name.
  2. A light purplish color like that of the flower of the purplish lilac.

Webster 1913