crocus

cro·cus

noun \ˈkrō-kəs\

plural cro·cus·es

Definition of CROCUS

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

Origin of CROCUS

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with CROCUS

focus, hocus, locus

cro·cus

noun \ˈkrō-kəs\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; cro·cus·es

Medical Definition of CROCUS

1

plural also ; crocus or ; cro·ci \-ˌkē, -ˌkī, -ˌsī\ (audio pronunciation) : any of a large genus (Crocus) of perennial herbs of the iris family (Iridaceae)

2

: saffron 1

crocus

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of about 75 species of low-growing plants, with corms, that make up the genus Crocus (iris family), native to the Alps, southern Europe, and the Mediterranean and widely grown for their cuplike blooms in early spring or fall. The spring-flowering sorts have a floral tube so long that the ovary is belowground, sheltered from climatic changes. Saffron comes from C. sativus of western Asia. The alpine C. vernus is the chief ancestor of the common garden crocus. Dutch yellow crocus (C. flavus) and C. biflorus are popular spring-flowering species.