crocus Hear it!

crocus definition

cro·cus (krō′kəs)

noun pl. crocuses cro′·cuses or croci cro′ci′ (-sī′)

  1. any of a large genus (Crocus) of spring-blooming plants of the iris family, with fleshy corms and a yellow, purple, or white flower
  2. an orange-yellow color; saffron
  3. powdered iron oxide used for polishing

Etymology: ME < L < Gr krokos, saffron, via Sem (as in Heb karkōm, Ar kurkum, Aram kūrkāmā, saffron, crocus), ult. < Sans kuṅkumam

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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