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.

purpleheart.

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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

a man's reach should exceed his grasp, amantadine, amanuensis, Amanullah Khan, Amapá, amaranth, amaranthaceous, amaranth family, amaranthine, amarelle, amaretti

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use amaranth in a sentence

It’s easily added to or subtracted from, usually starting with vegetables we have to use up before next week’s CSA box, which means dicing up everything from onions to romano beans to amaranth leaves.
Celebrate the House Meal, the Go-To Dish for When There’s No One to Satisfy but Yourself|Jaya Saxena|September 30, 2020|Eater
Look for:Purchase breads containing seeds and a mixture of healthy grains (like millet and amaranth) other than just brown rice.
How to Buy Gluten-Free Without Getting Duped|DailyBurn|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Soft music filled the air; soft breezes came to them as from fields of amaranth and asphodel.
The Argosy|Various
The fairest wreaths of amaranth the fairest hands shall twine For the brows of our preux chevaliers, the Bayards of the brine!
War Poetry of the South|Various

He had a girth of gold and silver round his body, and his tail was plaited with amaranth and blue velvet ribbons.
Pinocchio|C. Collodi
The spirit culls Unfaded amaranth, when wild it strays790 Through the old garden-ground of boyish days.
Endymion|John Keats
Evie went half wild with joy about a certain crystal bath; I about the Amaranth Room.
The Debit Account|Oliver Onions

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012