hyacinth

views updated May 21 2018

hy·a·cinth / ˈhīəˌsin[unvoicedth]/ • n. 1. a bulbous plant (genus Hyacinthus) of the lily family, with straplike leaves and a compact spike of bell-shaped fragrant flowers. ∎  a light purplish-blue color typical of some hyacinth flowers. 2. another term for jacinth.DERIVATIVES: hy·a·cin·thine / ˌhīəˈsin[unvoicedth]in; -ˌ[unvoicedth]īn/ adj.

hyacinth

views updated May 29 2018

hyacinth precious stone (cf. JACINTH); plant-name. XVI. — F. hyacinthe — L. hyacinthus — Gr. huákinthos purple or dark-red flower, precious stone.
So hyacinthine XVII. — L. — Gr.

hyacinth

views updated May 29 2018

hyacinth the flower of the hyacinth is supposed to have sprung from the blood of Hyacinthus, a beautiful boy whom the god Apollo loved but killed accidentally with a discus. From his blood Apollo caused the hyacinth to spring up.

hyacinth

views updated May 23 2018

hyacinth Bulbous plant native to the Mediterranean region and Africa. It has long, thin leaves and spikes of bell-shaped flowers, which may be white, yellow, red, blue, or purple. Family Liliaceae; genus Hyacinthus.

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