cyclamen

American  

[sahy-kluh-muhn, -men, sik-luh-] / ˈsaɪ klə mən, -ˌmɛn, ˈsɪk lə- /

noun

1. any low-growing plant of the genus Cyclamen, belonging to the primrose family, having tuberous rootstocks and nodding white, purple, pink, or crimson flowers with reflexed petals.

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cyclamen British  

/ ˈsɪkləmən, -ˌmɛn /

noun

1. any Old World plant of the primulaceous genus Cyclamen, having nodding white, pink, or red flowers, with reflexed petals See also sowbread

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adjective

1. of a dark reddish-purple colour

Etymology

Origin of cyclamen

1540–50; < New Latin, Medieval Latin < Greek kyklámīnos bulbous plant, akin to kýklos cycle

Example Sentences

For example, equipment was being developed to detect radioactive material at UK entry points - work which became known as "Operation Cyclamen".

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2023

Flowers such as Chinese witch hazel and Cyclamen coum pop midwinter, while dogwoods display red and yellow bark.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 8, 2022

After following devious directions and tortuous ways, they found the perfumery counter, and as they had now sufficient command of the French language to make their wants accurately known, they inquired for the precious Cyclamen.

From Patty in Paris by Wells, Carolyn

Something like this is Cyclamen, sometimes cultivated as a house plant.

From Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany For High Schools and Elementary College Courses by Campbell, Douglas Houghton

A similar tendency is manifested in the flower-stalks, as in Cyclamen and Vallisneria, and the whole inflorescence, as in Spiranthes.

From Vegetable Teratology An Account of the Principal Deviations from the Usual Construction of Plants by Masters, Maxwell T.