hyacinth

¹ American  

[hahy-uh-sinth] / ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /

noun

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

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

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

4. Mineralogy. a reddish-orange zircon.

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

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Hyacinth ² American  

[hahy-uh-sinth] / ˈhaɪ ə sɪnθ /

noun

1. a female given name.

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hyacinth British  

/ ˈhaɪəsɪnθ, ˌhaɪəˈsɪnθaɪn /

noun

1. 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

2. the flower or bulb of such a plant

3. any similar or related plant, such as the grape hyacinth

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

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

6. 1. any of the varying colours of the hyacinth flower or stone

   2. ( as modifier )

      hyacinth eyes

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Other Word Forms

• hyacinthine adjective

Etymology

Origin of hyacinth

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

Example Sentences

Like every year, Tehran’s Tajrish Square was crammed with stalls piled high with hyacinth, garlic and sprouts, while some featured mini-pools holding tiny goldfish, all traditional elements of the haft-sin.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

It’s beautifully packaged in a woven hyacinth basket and ready for gifting.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

The gardens sprawl in four sections, reimagining the vision of Sun King, Louis XIV, who wanted his grounds to overflow with the scents of orange blossom, hyacinth, tuberose and jasmine.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 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

Cobras love to swim, and I’d seen them often enough arrowing through water hyacinth, their wide flat heads spading up out of the water.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer