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.
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
1545–55; < Latin hyacinthus < Greek hyákinthos blue larkspur, also a gem of blue color; cf. jacinth
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s beautifully packaged in a woven hyacinth basket and ready for gifting.
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025
The estuary already has a long list of non-native species, including bass, water hyacinth, Asian clams and overbite clams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2024
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
The pangram from yesterday’s Spelling Bee was hyacinth.
From New York Times ● Feb. 13, 2023
From the windows of the residence, I could see the red tulips and lavender grape hyacinth that surrounded the fountain at the base of the hill.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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
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
More quirky items included two hardback copies of Hyacinth Bucket's books, from the sitcom Keeping up Appearances, which sold for £625 and a Buckingham Palace shower cap which went for £137.50.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2024
Beverley Ellis and Hyacinth Burrell - who both came to the UK from Jamaica in the 1960s - were guests at the event and recounted their early memories of the UK.
From BBC ● May 27, 2023
Laney was put in charge of soothing Jessie’s wounded soul by feeding her cheese croissants while Isa, Hyacinth, and Oliver gathered cleaning supplies and a garbage bag and went upstairs.
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
Amaryllis, paperwhites and hyacinths fill gloomy winter days with color and fragrance.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
