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hyacinth definition

hya·cinth (hī′ə sint̸h′)

noun

    1. among the ancients, a blue gem, probably the sapphire
    2. any of the reddish-orange or brownish varieties of zircon or certain other minerals, used as a semiprecious stone
    1. any of a genus (Hyacinthus) of plants of the lily family, with narrow channeled leaves and spikes of fragrant, bell-shaped flowers in white, yellow, red, blue, or purple
    2. the bulb of any of these plants
    3. the flower
  3. a bluish purple

Etymology: L hyacinthus < Gr hyakinthos, wild hyacinth, bluebell, blue larkspur, hence a blue gem

Related Forms:

  • hyacinthine hy′a·cin′·thine (-sin′t̸hin, -t̸hīn′) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

hyacinth Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • plant: Planting the hyacinths I've planted hyacinths every autumn for years, along with loads of other types of bulbs that flower in spring.

Adjective modifier

  • wild: In Scotland, its name is wild hyacinth and, to a Scot, ' bluebell ' means a completely unrelated plant!

Modifies a noun

  • macaw: In Bolivia, the hyacinth macaw, one of the largest parrots, numbers about 3,000 birds.

Noun used with modifier

  • grape: Grape hyacinths, tulips, February Gold narcissi among others are good contenders.
hyacinth usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

hyacinth quotes

Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought Mosaic; underfoot the violet, Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone Of costliest emblem: other creature here Beast, bird, insect, or worm durst enter none; Such was their awe of man.

-Milton,John

On desperate seas long wont to roam, Thy hyacinth hair, thy classic face, Thy Naiad airs have brought me home To the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome.

-Poe, EdgarAllan

hyacinth quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"hyacinth." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/hyacinth>

APA Style

hyacinth. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/hyacinth

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