hyacinth

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: hy=a=cinth

CIDE DICTIONARY

hyacinth, n. [L. hyacinthus a kind of flower, prob. the iris, gladiolus, or larkspur, also a kind of gem, perh. the sapphire; as, a proper name, Hyacinthus, a beautiful Laconian youth, beloved by Apollo, fr. Gr. , : cf. F. hyacinthe. Cf. Jacinth. The hyacinth was fabled to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, who was accidentally slain by Apollo.].

•  A bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus, bearing beautiful spikes of fragrant flowers. Hyacinthus orientalis is a common variety.  [1913 Webster]
•  A red variety of zircon, sometimes used as a gem. See Zircon.  [1913 Webster]

Hyacinth bean (Bot.), a climbing leguminous plant (Dolichos Lablab), related to the true bean. It has dark purple flowers and fruit.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hyacinth, n.
1 any bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus with racemes of usu. purplish-blue, pink, or white bell-shaped fragrant flowers.
2 = grape hyacinth.
3 the purplish-blue colour of the hyacinth flower.
4 an orange variety of zircon used as a precious stone.
5 poet. hair or locks like the hyacinth flower (as a Homeric epithet of doubtful sense).

Idiom

wild (or wood) hyacinth = BLUEBELL 1.

Derivative

hyacinthine adj.

Etymology

F hyacinthe f. L hyacinthus f. Gk huakinthos, flower and gem, also the name of a youth loved by Apollo

ROGET THESAURUS

hyacinth

Jewelry

N jewel, jewelry, jewellery, bijoutry, bijou, bijouterie, trinket, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, junk jewelry, gem, gemstone, precious stone, necklace, bracelet, anklet, earring, locket, pendant, charm bracelet, ring, pinky ring, carcanet, chain, chatelaine, broach, pin, lapel pin, torque, diamond, brilliant, rock, beryl, emerald, chalcedony, agate, heliotrope, girasol, girasole, onyx, plasma, sard, sardonyx, garnet, lapis lazuli, opal, peridot, tourmaline, chrysolite, sapphire, ruby, synthetic ruby, spinel, spinelle, balais, oriental, oriental topaz, turquois, turquoise, zircon, cubic zirconia, jacinth, hyacinth, carbuncle, amethyst, alexandrite, cat's eye, bloodstone, hematite, jasper, moonstone, sunstone, pearl, cultured pearl, fresh-water pearl, mother of pearl, coral, jeweler, gemologist, minerologist, lapidary, lapidarian, gemology, gemmology, minerology, bejeweled, diamond, (gemstones), gemological.