crocus

American  

[kroh-kuhs] / ˈkroʊ kəs /

noun

plural

crocuses

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

• crocused adjective

Etymology

Origin of crocus

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

Example Sentences

“It is just as you say, Miss Lumley. April crocuses everywhere I look.”

From Literature

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

There were two crocuses in the snow, sure harbingers of spring.

From Literature

Ludmila shows me purple crocuses and bluebells in neat rows and the green shoots of daffodils.

From BBC

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

From New York Times