amaranth
[ am-uh-ranth ]
/ ˈæm əˌrænθ /
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noun
an imaginary, undying flower.
any plant of the genus Amaranthus, some species of which are cultivated as food and some for their showy flower clusters or foliage.Compare amaranth family.
the grain of certain Amaranthus species, used for food and noted as an important staple grain of the Aztecs.
Chemistry. a purplish-red, water-soluble powder, C20H11N2O10Na3, an azo dye used chiefly to color pharmaceuticals, food, and garments.
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Origin of amaranth
First recorded in 1545–55; from French amarante or New Latin amaranthus (genus name), from Latin amarantus (masculine noun), alteration of Greek amáranton “unfading flower,” noun use of neuter singular of amárantos “unfading, imperishable,” equivalent to a- a-6 (see an-1) + maran- (stem of maraínein “to fade”) + -tos verbal adjective suffix; -th- as if from Greek ánthos “flower”
Words nearby amaranth
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for amaranth
amaranth
/ (ˈæməˌrænθ) /
noun
poetic an imaginary flower that never fades
any of numerous tropical and temperate plants of the genus Amaranthus, having tassel-like heads of small green, red, or purple flowers: family AmaranthaceaeSee also love-lies-bleeding, tumbleweed, pigweed (def. 1)
a synthetic red food colouring (E123), used in packet soups, cake mixes, etc
Word Origin for amaranth
C17: from Latin amarantus, from Greek amarantos unfading, from a- 1 + marainein to fade
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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