hyacinth

[ hahy-uh-sinth ]

noun
  1. a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.

  2. any of various similar or related plants, as the grape hyacinth or the water hyacinth.

  1. a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.

  2. Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.

  3. a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.

Origin of hyacinth

1
1545–55; <Latin hyacinthus<Greek hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth
  • Also called jacinth for defs. 3-5.

Words Nearby hyacinth

Other definitions for Hyacinth (2 of 2)

Hyacinth
[ hahy-uh-sinth ]

noun
  1. a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hyacinth in a sentence

  • The classic writers usually identify the hyacinth with Apollo.

    Witch, Warlock, and Magician | William Henry Davenport Adams
  • hyacinth (aside, What a bo-ar the fellar is; I wish he'd take himself off).

    Frank Fairlegh | Frank E. Smedley
  • hyacinth (fixing his glass in his eye, and scrutinising the apartment).

    Frank Fairlegh | Frank E. Smedley
  • hyacinth (aside, Fellar talks as if the animal were a pot of mignonette).

    Frank Fairlegh | Frank E. Smedley
  • Northward lies our hyacinth Barker, with all his blue hyacinths.

    The Napoleon of Notting Hill | Gilbert K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for hyacinth

hyacinth

/ (ˈhaɪəsɪnθ) /


noun
  1. any liliaceous plant of the Mediterranean genus Hyacinthus, esp any cultivated variety of H. orientalis, having a thick flower stalk bearing white, blue, or pink fragrant flowers

  2. the flower or bulb of such a plant

  1. any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth

  2. Also called: jacinth a red or reddish-brown transparent variety of the mineral zircon, used as a gemstone

  3. Greek myth a flower which sprang from the blood of the dead Hyacinthus

    • any of the varying colours of the hyacinth flower or stone

    • (as modifier): hyacinth eyes

Origin of hyacinth

1
C16: from Latin hyacinthus, from Greek huakinthos

Derived forms of hyacinth

  • hyacinthine (ˌhaɪəˈsɪnθaɪn), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012