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Lilac

Flora
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A fragrant shrub with clusters of purple, white, or pink spring flowers.

Detailed Definition
Lilacs evoke the first stirrings of love, nostalgia, and the ache of memory in poetry. Whitman and Eliot used them to mark seasonal return and emotional awakening. Their heady scent and brief bloom make them potent symbols of desire, renewal, and the haunting persistence of the past.
Example
Example in poetry:
Lilac appears in Whitman’s “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” as mourning symbol: “Lilac blooming perennial, and drooping star in the west”; In Russian poetry, it’s spring’s herald: “Lilac scent—Moscow’s May breath”; Modern eco-poems note its hardiness: “Lilac survives neglect, blooms anyway”; In love poetry, its clusters signify abundance: “Our love—lilac: many small joys”; In sensory verse, its perfume is nostalgic: “Lilac breath—grandmother’s porch at dusk”; In seasonal poetry, it marks mid-spring: “When lilacs bloom, frost’s threat is past.”
Additional Notes
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) blooms in late spring with fragrant panicles, symbolizing first love, renewal, and mourning (in Whitman’s “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d”); its color ranges from white to deep purple—each hue carries nuance; note its brief bloom for transience themes.
Other Meanings of “Lilac”
Also Known As
Common Lilac French Lilac
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