crocus

See also: Crocus

English

Crocus sativus

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin crocus, from Ancient Greek κρόκος (krókos, “crocus”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkɹəʊ.kəs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɹoʊ.kəs/
  • Rhymes: -əʊkəs

Noun

crocus (plural crocuses or croci)

  1. A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus.
  2. Any of various similar flowering plants, such as the autumn crocus and prairie crocus.
  3. (chemistry, obsolete) A deep yellow powder, the oxide of some metal (especially iron), calcined to a red or deep yellow colour.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

French

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin crocus, from Ancient Greek κρόκος (krókos, “crocus”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kʁɔ.kys/

Noun

crocus m (plural crocus)

  1. crocus (plant)

Further reading

Latin

crocus (crocus plant)

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κρόκος (krókos, “crocus”).

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈkro.kus/, [ˈkrɔ.kʊs]

Noun

crocus m (genitive crocī); second declension

  1. crocus, saffron

Usage notes

Most often, the masculine crocus was used to refer to the plant, while the neuter crocum was used for saffron gathered from the plant. However, this distinction is not universally observed, and the word crocus may refer either to the crocus plant or to saffron taken from the plant.

Inflection

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative crocus crocī
genitive crocī crocōrum
dative crocō crocīs
accusative crocum crocōs
ablative crocō crocīs
vocative croce crocī

Descendants

  • Old Occitan: gròc, gruèc
  • Sardinian: grogu
  • Spanish: croco

References

  • crocus in Charles du Fresne du Cange’s Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition, 1883–1887)
  • crocus in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • crocus in William Smith, editor (1848) A Dictionary of Greek Biography and Mythology, London: John Murray
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.