See Also: Crocus(medicine)
crocus(1)(dictionary)
crocus(2)(dictionary)
crocus(encyclopedia)
crocus(dictionary)
autumn crocus(encyclopedia)

crocus(1) (iou)



crocus noun1. . LME.
[Latin from Greek krokos of Semitic origin: cf. Hebrew karkom, Arab. kurkum.]
A plant of the genus Crocus, of the iris family, which comprises small plants with corms and single bright (often yellow or purple) flowers that usu. appear in spring. LME.
b. autumn crocus, an autumn-flowering plant of the genus Colchicum, esp. meadow saffron, C. autumnale. E19.
Saffron. LME.
Ferric oxide obtained as a reddish or purplish powder by calcination of ferrous sulphate and used for polishing metal; any of various red or yellow powders obtained from metals by calcination. M17.
A quack doctor. slang. L18.
Phrases: autumn crocus (a) a crocus of SW Europe, Crocus nudiflorus, with flowers appearing before the leaves, which is naturalized locally in England; (b) see sense 1b above. saffron crocus: see SAFFRON noun 1.