crocus

American  

[kroh-kuhs] / ˈkroʊ kəs /

noun

• crocuses,
  plural
• croci
  plural

1. any of the small, bulbous plants of the genus Crocus, of the iris family, cultivated for their showy, solitary flowers, which are among the first to bloom in the spring.

2. the flower or bulb of the crocus.

3. a deep yellow; orangish yellow; saffron.

4. Also called crocus martis. a polishing powder consisting of iron oxide.

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crocus British  

/ ˈkrəʊkəs /

noun

1. any plant of the iridaceous genus Crocus, widely cultivated in gardens, having white, yellow, or purple flowers See also autumn crocus

2. another name for jeweller's rouge

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adjective

1. of a saffron yellow colour

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• crocused
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• croci
  plural
• crocuses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of crocus

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek krókos saffron, crocus < Semitic; compare Arabic kurkum saffron

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

crocus croci crocuses

With their annual income at their fingertips, a family of saffron farmers pluck delicate crimson stigmas from crocus flowers grown high in India’s Kashmir Valley.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 26, 2024

In the meantime, residents were clinging to signs that the cold would eventually retreat: a stray crocus in the yard.

From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2024

To revitalise the saffron farmers, Dr Allie is trying to breed hardier crocus plants.

From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2023

The earliest in-ground bloomers will need fewer weeks of cold when forced, before they are ready to start flowering — meaning, a crocus blooms faster than a daffodil.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023

Short crocus blades sheathed the purple-and-white hearts that so wished to be first they endured the chill and rain of early spring.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison

The flowers appear before the leaves, and may, at the first glance, be taken for lilac-coloured croci.

From Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers Describing the Most Desirable Plants, for Borders, Rockeries, and Shrubberies. by John Wood

Count Giovanni Gozzadini has called the attention of archæologists to this subject in a memoir "Sulle croci monumentali che erano nelle vie di Bologna del secolo XIII."

From Pagan and Christian Rome by Rodolfo Amedeo Lanciani

Notwithstanding their dead appearance in winter, a capital suggestion occurred to me by an accidental mixture of croci with the Phlox.

From Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers Describing the Most Desirable Plants, for Borders, Rockeries, and Shrubberies. by John Wood

With daffodils, crocuses and even cherry blossom flourishing, it has started to look a lot like spring.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026

With several days with high temperatures in the 50s and 60s, the first reports of crocuses appeared in late January, which is around a month early.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 16, 2023

Snow crocuses are extremely affordable and well worth tediously protecting for the early and enduring color they bring to the winter garden.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 1, 2022

Forcing the Jets and the Giants to endure another icy week of pointless football is a little like leaving the Christmas decorations up until the crocuses bloom.

From New York Times ● Jan. 5, 2022

It was only March, but it was warm and the field was full of wild crocuses, jonquils and Indian paintbrush.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine

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