crocus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Literary, Gardening, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “crocus” mean?
A small, low-growing plant that produces brightly coloured, cup-shaped flowers in early spring or autumn.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, low-growing plant that produces brightly coloured, cup-shaped flowers in early spring or autumn.
The flower itself; also, in historical or literary contexts, used for the source of the spice saffron, which comes from the stigmas of the autumn-blooming Crocus sativus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties refer to the same plant.
Connotations
Connotes early spring, renewal, and gardens in both varieties. The UK may have a slightly stronger association with domestic gardening.
Frequency
Equally recognized, though possibly slightly more frequent in UK discourse due to gardening culture.
Grammar
How to Use “crocus” in a Sentence
The [colour] crocus [verb: bloomed/sprang up/appeared].We planted [number] crocus bulbs in the [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crocus” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The garden was crocused with specks of purple and gold.
- (Rare/poetic)
American English
- The field crocused early this year after the mild winter.
- (Rare/poetic)
adjective
British English
- She admired the crocus-coloured scarf, a vibrant shade of purple.
- (Derived)
American English
- The crocus blooms provided a crocus-yellow highlight to the border.
- (Derived)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except possibly in horticulture, gardening retail, or spice trade contexts.
Academic
Used in botany, horticulture, history of agriculture, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Common in discussions about gardens, spring, and seasonal changes.
Technical
Specific in botany (genus *Crocus*, family Iridaceae) and in the production of saffron spice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crocus”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crocus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crocus”
- Incorrect plural: 'croci' (hypercorrect Latin plural) is less common than the regular English plural 'crocuses'.
- Misspelling: 'croccus', 'crocous'.
- Mispronunciation: /ˈkrɒkəs/ instead of /ˈkrəʊkəs/ or /ˈkroʊkəs/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Saffron is the spice made from the red stigmas of the *Crocus sativus* flower. 'Crocus' refers to the entire plant genus, most species of which are grown for their flowers, not for spice.
Most commonly in early spring. However, some species, like the saffron crocus (*Crocus sativus*), bloom in the autumn.
Both 'crocuses' (regular English plural) and 'croci' (Latin plural) are accepted, but 'crocuses' is far more common in everyday English.
No. While *Crocus sativus* stigmas are edible as saffron, many ornamental crocus species are toxic if ingested. Never consume a plant unless you are certain of its species and safety.
A small, low-growing plant that produces brightly coloured, cup-shaped flowers in early spring or autumn.
Crocus is usually formal, literary, gardening, neutral in register.
Crocus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrəʊkəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkroʊkəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Poetically used as a symbol of early hope or fleeting beauty.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **crow** (sounds like 'cro') wearing a **cus**tom-made purple coat in the spring. The crow is standing on a crocus flower.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CROCUS IS A HERALD / MESSENGER (of spring). THE CROCUS IS A SYMBOL OF TRANSITION (from winter to spring).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary product derived from the *Crocus sativus* species?