(n)bulbous autumn-flowering herb with white, purple or lavender-and-white flowers; native to western and central Europe, Syn.meadow saffron, naked lady, Colchicum autumnale
(n)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
(n)any of several dwarf orchids of the genus Pleione bearing one or two solitary white or pink to magenta or occasionally yellow flowers with slender stalks
n. [ L., saffron, fr. Gr. kro`kos; cf. Heb. karkōm, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku&ndot_;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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Crocus of Venus (Old Chem.), oxide of copper. [ 1913 Webster ]