Word Study
crocus
CIDE DICTIONARY
crocus, n. [L., saffron, fr. Gr. kro`kos; cf. Heb. kark, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku.].
- A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms rising separately from the bulb or corm.
Crocus vernus is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers;Crocus sativus produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn. [1913 Webster] - A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of iron (
Crocus of Mars orcolcothar ) thus produced from salts of iron, and used as a polishing powder. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
crocus, n. (pl. crocuses) any dwarf plant of the genus Crocus, growing from a corm and having brilliant usu. yellow or purple flowers.
Etymology
ME, = saffron, f. L f. Gk krokos crocus, of Semitic orig.
ROGET THESAURUS
crocus
Yellowness
N yellowness, yellow, or, gamboge, cadmium-yellow, chrome-yellow, Indian-yellow king's-yellow, lemonyellow, orpiment, yellow ocher, Claude tint, aureolin, xanthein, xanthin, zaofulvin, crocus, saffron, topaz, xanthite, yolk, jaundice, London fog, yellowness, icterus, xantho- cyanopia, xanthopsia, yellow, aureate, golden, flavous, citrine, fallow, fulvous, fulvid, sallow, luteous, tawny, creamy, sandy, xanthic, xanthous, jaundiced, auricomous, gold-colored, citron-colored, saffron-colored, lemon-colored, lemon yellow, sulphur-colored, amber-colored, straw-colored, primrose- colored, creamcolored, xanthocarpous, xanthochroid, xanthopous, yellow as a quince, yellow as a guinea, yellow as a crow's foot, warm, advancing.For further exploring for "crocus" in Webster Dictionary Online
