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 a plural 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 1a
2 : a dark red ferric oxide used for polishing metals