Crocus
Crocus (krō"kus) , noun
[Latin, saffron, from Greek kro`kos; compare Hebrew karkōm, Arabic kurkum, Sanskrit kuṅkuma.]
1.
(Botany) 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.
2.
(Chemistry) 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.
Collocations (1)
Crocus of Venus (Old Chemistry) , oxide of copper.