narcissus

noun

nar·​cis·​sus när-ˈsi-səs 

1

Narcissus : a beautiful youth in Greek mythology who pines away for love of his own reflection and is then turned into the narcissus flower

2

plural narcissi när-ˈsi-ˌsī 

-(ˌ)sē

or narcissuses or narcissus : daffodil

especially : one whose flowers have a short corona and are usually borne separately

Examples of narcissus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bearded iris • Bugle lilies (Watsonia) • Clivia • Daffodils and narcissus • Forest lily (Veltheimia bracteata) • Grevillea • Peruvian lilies (Alstroemeria) • Pincushion (Leucospermum) • Rosemary • Roses Cut back California poppy plants after their first blooms fade. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

Some kinds of bulbs, such as amaryllis and paperwhite narcissus, are not winter-hardy and have no chance to survive cold weather outdoors. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026

Multiple photos depicted a bouquet of yellow narcissus flowers, otherwise known as daffodils, and a handwritten note from Middleton. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026

The long-lasting flowers aren't particularly bothered by the cold, making daffodils (Narcissus) a reliable late winter and spring bloomer. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Nárkissos, probably so named after the flower; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin, "plant of the genus Narcissus," borrowed from Greek nárkissos, of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for narcissus

• abscissas
• symphysis
• adenohypophysis
• apophysis
• diaphysis
• dionysus
• epiphysis
• hemolysis
• hypophysis
• metaphysis
• diaphoresis
• electrophoresis

Kids Definition

narcissus

noun

nar·​cis·​sus när-ˈsis-əs 

plural narcissi -ˈsis-ˌī 

-ē

or narcissuses or narcissus

: daffodil

especially : one whose flowers have a short tube and grow separately on the stalk