Main Entry:

cro·cus

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrō-kəs\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural cro·cus·es

Etymology:

Middle English, the saffron plant, from Latin, from Greek krokos, of Semitic origin; akin to Akkadian kurkānū saffron

Date:

14th century

1 aplural also crocus or cro·ci \-ˌkē, -ˌkī, -ˌsī\ : any of a genus (Crocus) of herbs of the iris family developing from corms and having solitary long-tubed flowers and slender linear leaves b: saffron 1a2: a dark red ferric oxide used for polishing metals