saffron

[ saf-ruhn ]
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noun
  1. Also called vegetable gold . a crocus, Crocus sativus, having showy purple flowers.

  2. an orange-colored condiment consisting of its dried stigmas, used to color and flavor foods.

  1. Also saffron yellow . a yellowish-orange color.

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Origin of saffron

1
1150–1200; Middle English saffran, saffronOld French safran<Medieval Latin saffrānum<Arabic zaʿfarān

Words Nearby saffron

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British Dictionary definitions for saffron

saffron

/ (ˈsæfrən) /


noun
  1. an Old World crocus, Crocus sativus, having purple or white flowers with orange stigmas

  2. the dried stigmas of this plant, used to flavour or colour food

  1. meadow saffron another name for autumn crocus

  2. false saffron another name for safflower

    • an orange to orange-yellow colour

    • (as adjective): a saffron dress

Origin of saffron

1
C13: from Old French safran, from Medieval Latin safranum, from Arabic za'farān

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012