cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən  ˈsi- 

: any of a genus (Cyclamen) of Old World plants of the primrose family having showy nodding flowers

Examples of cyclamen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Under Dior gray skies and a canopy of cyclamens, Jonathan Anderson staged his first couture show for the house with Rihanna, Jennifer Lawrence and Anya Taylor-Joy in the front row. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026

Beard lichens hang from the branches and cyclamens push up among tree roots that bulge from the earth like gnarled claws. — Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2025

Add a pop of color to those dreary winter days with a cyclamen plant in your home. — Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Jan. 2023

Persian violet is actually a cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) that can begin flowering as early as December, but usually produces its best show in February and early March. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Medieval Latin ciclamin-, ciclamen, going back to Latin cyclamīnos, cyclamīnum, borrowed from Greek kyklámīnos, probably from kýklos "circle, wheel" + -aminos (as in sēsáminos "made of sesame," from sēsamê sesame + -inos, suffix of materials); so named from the round tuber of Cyclamen graecum — more at wheel entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cyclamen

• foramen
• gravamen
• highwayman
• highwaymen
• philemon
• putamen
• railwaymen
• cayman
• daimon
• damon
• haman
• layman

Kids Definition

cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən 

ˈsik-lə-

: any of a genus of plants related to the primroses and often grown in pots for their showy nodding flowers

Medical Definition

cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən  ˈsik-lə- 

: any of a genus (Cyclamen) of Old World plants of the primrose family having showy, downward-curving flowers