What does "crocus" mean?
A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus.
Crocus
/ˈkɹoʊ.kəs/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus.
- Grammar: crocus is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abrasive, bloom, blossom, color.
- Useful contrasts: nonflowering plant, uncultivated crocus, wild crocus.
- Usage evidence: The crocus is a forerunner of spring.
How to use "crocus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "crocus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "crocus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "crocus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "crocus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "crocus" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abrasive" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "crocus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A perennial flowering plant (of the genus Crocus in the Iridaceae family). Saffron is obtained from the stamens of Crocus sativus.
"Other foreign terms have become so thoroughly Anglicised as to adopt English plurals, and it is sometimes difficult to decide whether the English or the original foreign form is the more correct. None but a pedant would speak of ‘the chori of an opera,’ ‘the croci in a garden,’ or ‘the dogmata of the church;’ […]"
- 2 A fraudulent doctor; a quack. obsolete, slang
"The characteristics of the crocus or vagabond quack doctor appear to find a sardonically appropriate origin in the Erse cruach-bhas, a bloody death."
- 3 Burlap. Jamaica, Trinidad-and-Tobago, uncountable
"a crocus bag"
- 4 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 wordnet
- 5 Any of various similar flowering plants, such as autumn crocus and prairie crocus.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A deep yellow powder, the oxide of some metal (especially iron), calcined to a red or deep yellow colour. obsolete
Antonyms
nonflowering plantuncultivated crocuswild crocus
Example
"The crocus is a forerunner of spring."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "crocus"?
Common synonyms include: abrasive, bloom, blossom, color, emery, file.
How do you use "crocus" in a sentence?
The crocus is a forerunner of spring.
How do you pronounce "crocus"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹoʊ.kəs/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Learned borrowing from Latin crocus, from Ancient Greek κρόκος (krókos, “crocus”), from an ancient Semitic language.
Etymology 2
Perhaps related to croak.