hyacinth

[ hahy-uh-sinth ]

/ ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /

noun

a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.

any of various similar or related plants, as the grape hyacinth or the water hyacinth.

a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.

Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.

a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.

Nearby words

Origin of hyacinth

1545–55; < Latin hyacinthus < Greek hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth

Also called jacinth for defs 3–5.

Hyacinth

[ hahy-uh-sinth ]

/ ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /

noun

a female given name.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hyacinth

Hyacinth: I never thought it would bring such great trouble upon you.
Seven Short Plays|Lady Gregory
Hence this adaptation is less a solecism than that of the bell for the hyacinth.
Notes and Queries, Number 222, January 28, 1854|Various
Hyacinth sighed and turned to go, but Dr. Henry laid a hand upon his shoulder and detained him.
Hyacinth|George A. Birmingham
Whatever may have been the defects of 'Hyacinth Ellet,' he has never publicly failed to 'know his father and his mother.'
The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern|Anonymous

Ormuz Khan drew a hyacinth from a vase close beside him and languidly waved it in dismissal.
Fire-Tongue|Sax Rohmer

British Dictionary definitions for hyacinth

hyacinth

/ (ˈhaɪəsɪnθ) /

noun

any liliaceous plant of the Mediterranean genus Hyacinthus, esp any cultivated variety of H. orientalis, having a thick flower stalk bearing white, blue, or pink fragrant flowers

the flower or bulb of such a plant

any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth

Also called: jacinth a red or reddish-brown transparent variety of the mineral zircon, used as a gemstone

Greek myth a flower which sprang from the blood of the dead Hyacinthus

any of the varying colours of the hyacinth flower or stone
(as modifier)hyacinth eyes

Derived Formshyacinthine (ˌhaɪəˈsɪnθaɪn), adjective

Word Origin for hyacinth

C16: from Latin hyacinthus, from Greek huakinthos

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

Word Origin and History for hyacinth

hyacinth

1550s, "the plant hyacinth;" re-Greeked from earlier jacinth (late 14c.) "hyacinth; blue cornflower," earlier a precious stone blue (rarely red) in color (c.1200), from Old French jacinte and Medieval Latin jacintus, ultimately from Greek hyakinthos, probably ultimately from a non-Indo-European Mediterranean language. Used in ancient Greece of a blue gem, perhaps sapphire, and of a purple or deep red flower, but exactly which one is unknown (gladiolus, iris, and larkspur have been suggested). Fabled to have sprouted from the blood of Hyakinthos, youth beloved by Apollo and accidentally slain by him. The flower is said to have the letters "AI" or "AIAI" on its petals. The modern use in reference to a particular flowering plant genus is from 1570s.