amaranth

American  

[am-uh-ranth] / ˈæm əˌrænθ /

noun

1. an imaginary, undying flower.

2. any plant of the genus Amaranthus, some species of which are cultivated as food and some for their showy flower clusters or foliage.

3. the grain of certain Amaranthus species, used for food and noted as an important staple grain of the Aztecs.

4. Chemistry.  a purplish-red, water-soluble powder, C 20 H 11 N 2 O 10 Na 3 , an azo dye used chiefly to color pharmaceuticals, food, and garments.

5. purpleheart.

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amaranth British  

/ ˈæməˌrænθ /

noun

1. poetic  an imaginary flower that never fades

2. any of numerous tropical and temperate plants of the genus Amaranthus, having tassel-like heads of small green, red, or purple flowers: family Amaranthaceae See also love-lies-bleeding tumbleweed pigweed

3. a synthetic red food colouring ( E123 ), used in packet soups, cake mixes, etc

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Etymology

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 ( def. ) ( an- ¹ ( def. ) ) + maran- (stem of maraínein “to fade”) + -tos verbal adjective suffix; -th- as if from Greek ánthos “flower”

Example Sentences

Figure out how many anchor flowers you’ll need, and roughly how many filler stems — such as greens, draping clusters of amaranth or smaller flowers like baby’s breath — are required to make each arrangement.

From Los Angeles Times

She spots amaranth and caresses the diamond-shaped green leaves, commonly known as pigweed in English.

From Los Angeles Times

The experience has empowered her to consider next year’s growing season, which she hopes will include dahlias, foxglove and amaranth.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers used five flours that included gluten: unbleached all-purpose flour, red turkey wheat, emmer, rye and einkorn; and five gluten-free flours: teff, millet, sorghum, buckwheat and amaranth.

From Science Daily

On our post-Hilary visit, it is a riot of life, with bumblebees buzzing around blooming amaranth and apricot mallow.

From Los Angeles Times