Crocus sativus
    n 1: Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with
         aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
         [syn: saffron, saffron crocus, Crocus sativus]

Saffron \Saf"fron\ (?; 277), n. [OE. saffran, F. safran; cf. It.
   zafferano, Sp. azafran, Pg. a[,c]afr[~a]o; all fr. Ar. & Per.
   za' far[=a]n.]
   1. (Bot.) A bulbous iridaceous plant (Crocus sativus)
      having blue flowers with large yellow stigmas. See
      Crocus.
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   2. The aromatic, pungent, dried stigmas, usually with part of
      the stile, of the Crocus sativus. Saffron is used in
      cookery, and in coloring confectionery, liquors,
      varnishes, etc., and was formerly much used in medicine.
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   3. An orange or deep yellow color, like that of the stigmas
      of the Crocus sativus.
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   Bastard saffron, Dyer's saffron. (Bot.) See Safflower.
      

   Meadow saffron (Bot.), a bulbous plant (Colchichum
      autumnale) of Europe, resembling saffron.

   Saffron wood (Bot.), the yellowish wood of a South African
      tree (Elaeodendron croceum); also, the tree itself.

   Saffron yellow, a shade of yellow like that obtained from
      the stigmas of the true saffron (Crocus sativus).
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Crocin \Cro"cin\ (kr?"s?n), n. [Gr. ???? saffron.] (Chem.)
   (a) The coloring matter of Chinese yellow pods, the fruit of
       Gardenia grandiflora. --Watts.
   (b) A red powder (called also polychroite), which is made
       from the saffron (Crocus sativus). See Polychroite.
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Crocus \Cro"cus\ (kr[=o]"k[u^]s), n. [L., saffron, fr. Gr.
   kro`kos; cf. Heb. kark[=o]m, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku[.n]kuma.]
   1. (Bot.) A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms
      rising separately from the bulb or corm. Crocus vernus
      is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; Crocus
      sativus produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn.
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   2. (Chem.) A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal
      calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of
      iron (Crocus of Mars or colcothar) thus produced from
      salts of iron, and used as a polishing powder.
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   Crocus of Venus (Old Chem.), oxide of copper.
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