crocus

[ kroh-kuhs ]

noun

, plural cro·cus·es.

1. any of the small, bulbous plants of the genus Crocus, of the iris family, cultivated for their showy, solitary flowers, which are among the first to bloom in the spring.
2. the flower or bulb of the crocus.
3. a deep yellow; orangish yellow; saffron.
4. Also called crocus martis [mahr, -tis]. a polishing powder consisting of iron oxide.

crocus

/ ˈkrəʊkəs /

noun

1. any plant of the iridaceous genus Crocus, widely cultivated in gardens, having white, yellow, or purple flowers See also autumn crocus
2. another name for jeweller's rouge

adjective

1. of a saffron yellow colour

Other Words From

• crocused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocus¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek krókos saffron, crocus < Semitic; compare Arabic kurkum saffron

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocus¹

C17: from New Latin, from Latin crocus, from Greek krokos saffron, of Semitic origin

Example Sentences

Not even just your regular, garden-variety spring, but a full-on Stravinsky-style spring, with crocuses bursting from the earth in symphonic unison, rain showers copiously blessing the fields and trees blossoming from every twig.

From Time

The crocuses are coming up from the neglected, half-brown lawns, and even the daffodils in my own pitiful mulch bed have bloomed.

From Washington Post

As crocuses and other early-blooming flowers opened up, the green buds of cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin emerged Thursday, reaching the first of five stages in their development.

From Washington Post

That snow is giving way to some crocuses and other early flowers in and around the city.

From Washington Post

Saffron is the dried stigmas (the female reproductive parts) of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus).

From The Daily Beast

It takes about 70,000 crocus blossoms or 210,000 stigmas to yield just a pound of saffron.

From The Daily Beast

One morning Spring peeped round the corner and dropped a crocus or two and a primrose or two.

From Project Gutenberg

In the city of leafy avenues there is not a leaf to be seen, and, except the irrepressible crocus, not a flower.

From Project Gutenberg

The peacock brocade, the eau de Nil, the crocus yellow, but once—twice at the uttermost.

From Project Gutenberg

Hyacinths, narcissus, tulips, and crocus can be made to flower in the winter without difficulty.

From Project Gutenberg

So he came down and changed himself into a bull and breathed from his mouth a crocus 1721.

From Project Gutenberg