Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of small, low-growing flowering plant: A crocus is a plant belonging to the genus Crocus, characterized by slender, grass-like leaves and cup-shaped flowers. It is a perennial plant that grows from a corm (a bulb-like storage organ).
   • The flower of this plant: The term also refers specifically to the solitary, often brightly colored flower produced by these plants, which appears in early spring or autumn, depending on the species.
   • A source of saffron: One specific species, Crocus sativus, is cultivated for its dried stigmas, which are used as the spice saffron.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The first crocuses are a welcome sign of spring. (The appearance of these flowers indicates the beginning of spring.)
  • She planted a variety of purple and yellow crocuses in the garden. (She planted different colored flowers of this plant type.)
  • Saffron is harvested from the crocus. (The spice is obtained from a specific species of this plant.)

Advanced Usage

• "Crocus lawn": An area of grass naturalized with crocus flowers.
  • In March, their crocus lawn becomes a carpet of color.
• "Autumn crocus": Refers to species that bloom in the fall, such as . Note: This term is also used for other fall-blooming plants like , which are not true crocuses.
  • The autumn crocus provides late-season color in the garden.

Variants and Related Words

• Corm (n): The solid, bulb-like base from which a crocus grows.
• Saffron crocus (n): The common name for , the species cultivated for saffron.
• Crocetin (n): A carotenoid compound found in crocus flowers.

Synonyms

• Spring bulb (general category): While not a direct synonym, crocuses are often grouped with other early-spring flowering plants that grow from bulbs or corms.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning refers to the ornamental flowering plant. The secondary, more specific meaning relates to its economic importance as the source of saffron, one of the world's most expensive spices by weight.
• Cultivated varieties exist in many colors beyond the classic purple, yellow, and white, including striped and multi-colored forms.

Noun

1. any of numerous low-growing plants of the genus Crocus having slender grasslike leaves and white or yellow or purple flowers; native chiefly to the Mediterranean region but widely cultivated