hyacinth

[ hahy-uh-sinth ]

/ ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /

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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.

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Also called jacinth for defs. 3-5.

Origin of hyacinth

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

Words nearby hyacinth

Hwang Ho, HWM, hwy, hwyl, Hy, hyacinth, hyacinth bean, hyacinthin, hyacinthine, Hyacinthus, Hyades

Other definitions for hyacinth (2 of 2)

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. 2023

How to use hyacinth in a sentence

When the announcement was made over the loudspeaker for everyone to report to the pavilion, Zippy went, but Hyacinth refused.
The Story of the Jonestown Massacre Is About Much More Than Jim Jones. We've Been Fighting to Tell It for Decades|Margo Hall|November 17, 2021|Time
The classic writers usually identify the hyacinth with Apollo.
Witch, Warlock, and Magician|William Henry Davenport Adams
Hyacinth (aside, What a bo-ar the fellar is; I wish he'd take himself off).
Frank Fairlegh|Frank E. Smedley
Hyacinth (fixing his glass in his eye, and scrutinising the apartment).
Frank Fairlegh|Frank E. Smedley

Hyacinth (aside, Fellar talks as if the animal were a pot of mignonette).
Frank Fairlegh|Frank E. Smedley
Northward lies our hyacinth Barker, with all his blue hyacinths.
The Napoleon of Notting Hill|Gilbert K. Chesterton

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 forms of hyacinth

hyacinthine (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