hyacinth
noun
a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.
hyacinth
1 American
[hahy-uh-sinth]
/ ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /
noun
-
hyacinths
plural
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a bulbous plant, Hyacinthus orientalis, of the lily family, widely cultivated for its cylindrical cluster of fragrant flowers in a variety of colors.
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any of various similar or related plants, as the grape hyacinth or the water hyacinth.
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a plant fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus and variously identified as iris, gladiolus, larkspur, etc.
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Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.
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a gem of the ancients, held to be the amethyst or sapphire.
Hyacinth
2
American
[hahy-uh-sinth]
/ ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /
noun
hyacinth
British
/ 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
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the flower or bulb of such a plant
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any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth
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Also called: jacinth. a red or reddish-brown transparent variety of the mineral zircon, used as a gemstone
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Greek myth a flower which sprang from the blood of the dead Hyacinthus
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any of the varying colours of the hyacinth flower or stone
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( as modifier )
hyacinth eyes
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hyacinth
1545–55; < Latin hyacinthus < Greek hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth
Vocabulary lists containing hyacinth
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s beautifully packaged in a woven hyacinth basket and ready for gifting.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025
Admittedly, it’s easier to bloom an Amaryllis, hyacinth or paperwhite Narcissus bulb that has been prepared in cold storage by the supplier.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 20, 2023
His birds include a scarlet macaw, a green-winged macaw and four rare blue hyacinth macaws.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2023
Now, the visitors are greeted to the sight of boats stuck in a sea of invasive green water hyacinth weed.
From Reuters ● Mar. 1, 2023
Athena lent a hand, making him seem taller, and massive too, with crisping hair in curls like petals of wild hyacinth, but all red-golden.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
The depictions of Ruth’s uptight and stingy brother Hyacinth and jealous and mother-in-law from hell “old Mrs. Hall” are both hoots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
Mourners have gathered for the funeral of actress Dame Patricia Routledge, known for playing Hyacinth Bucket in classic TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2025
Insisting it was "pronounced Bouquet," Hyacinth ran roughshod over her long-suffering husband and bewildered neighbours in Keeping Up Appearances, one of Britain's most successful sitcoms in the 1990s.
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2025
The family were also able to track down a motorist who said she had given Hyacinth a lift to a location a short distance from the hospital.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2025
Hyacinth filled his bowl with precisely one scoop of dry dog food.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
They’re building floating beds of water hyacinths to grow vegetables beyond the reach of floodwaters.
From New York Times ● Jun. 25, 2023
The rafts, woven from the stems of invasive hyacinths, are providing a lifeline for families during the increasingly extreme monsoon seasons, when dry land can be especially scarce.
From Reuters ● Oct. 20, 2022
African violets, tulips, orchids, hyacinths and cyclamen are affordable alternatives that will outlast fresh flowers, which often fade after a few days.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 2, 2022
Spring crocuses, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, irises, and all the other wonderful spring bloomers need to go through a winter chill period in order to bloom.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2021
Clusters of daffodils and pudgy little purple hyacinths had sprouted up all over our yard.
From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings
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