hyacinth

hy·a·cinth | \ ˈhī-ə-(ˌ)sin(t)th

How to pronounce hyacinth (audio)

, -sən(t)th \

Definition of hyacinth

1a : a precious stone of the ancients sometimes held to be the sapphire

b : a gem zircon or hessonite

2a : a plant of the ancients held to be a lily, iris, larkspur, or gladiolus

b : a bulbous perennial herb (Hyacinthus orientalis) of the lily family that is native to the Mediterranean region but is widely grown for its dense spikes of fragrant flowers — compare grape hyacinth, water hyacinth

3 : a light violet to moderate purple

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Examples of hyacinth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Here’s the lowdown: These plants are poisonous and should never be ingested: ● chrysanthemum ● daffodil ● holly ● hyacinth● ivy ● mistletoe ● mountain laurel If your pet chews on any of these plants, contact your veterinarian immediately. — Heloise, Washington Post, "Hints From Heloise: These plants are pretty … poisonous," 14 Dec. 2019 Platt said that residents disagreed with recent efforts by the city to remove the birds from the water-hyacinth covered area. — Vincent T. Davis, ExpressNews.com, "City of San Antonio helps fund West Side summer youth leadership program," 27 July 2019 These have included lima beans, asparagus beans and hyacinth beans. — Washington Post, "Vines are a romantic addition to the garden — until they go rogue," 9 July 2019 There are other plants, such as daffodils, peonies, and hyacinths, that should stay in the same place. — Kyle Johnson, Sunset, "10 Flower Farmer Secrets to Get Your Garden Blooming," 22 Jan. 2018 Plant lilies underneath less tasty bulbs such as daffodils and hyacinths. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "How to Grow Lily Flowers," 1 Aug. 2018 Inspired by his favorite spring flowers, creator Christopher Brosius designed this fragrance with the essences of hyacinth, daffodil, crocus, and tulip, and the absolutes of narcissus and jonquil. — Evelyn Crowley, Vogue, "Why Fragrance Water Is the Perfume World’s New Obsession," 11 Aug. 2018 The London candle is reminiscent of the Columbia Road flower market, with notes of tropical heliotrope, lilac, juniper, and sweet-smelling hyacinth with a hint of spice, which feels like an homage to the city’s diverse culture. — Shannon Barbour, The Cut, "You Can Buy These Exclusive Diptyque Candles for 4 Days Only," 6 Apr. 2018 White daffodils pop against a bed of whiter hyacinths. — Colleen Barry, chicagotribune.com, "Nature shows off during Dutch tulip season," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hyacinth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near hyacinth

hyacinth bacteriosis

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Last Updated

31 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Hyacinth.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyacinth. Accessed 21 January 2020.

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