saffron crocus
- noun
- /ˈsæfrən ˈkroʊkəs/
:
crocus de azafrán
- Only the stigmas of the saffron crocus are used to make the prized spice saffron.
Examples
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We planted several saffron crocuses in our garden.
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The saffron crocus blooms beautifully in the fall.
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Farmers in Spain cultivate fields of saffron crocus for both culinary and medicinal uses.
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The saffron crocus blooms in autumn and is meticulously harvested by hand.
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The saffron crocus blooms in the fall, showcasing its vibrant purple flowers.
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The saffron crocus is known for its orange stigmas, which are harvested to make saffron spice.
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During the harvest, farmers collect the stigmas from the saffron crocus to produce the world’s most expensive spice.
Synonyms
1
8.4
A small flowering plant whose orange flower threads are harvested as saffron
1
5.2
A crocus plant with purple flowers whose orange threads are dried to make spice
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase directly denotes a crocus associated with saffron — a crocus whose stigmas produce saffron — so its meaning is compositionally derived from 'saffron' and 'crocus'. This is a straightforward, literal noun–noun compound and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The plant called the saffron crocus is a small purple crocus whose bright orange threads are picked by hand to make the saffron 'spice'. Because each flower gives only a few threads, the spice is rare and expensive, and that's why the flower's name links the crocus to the 'spice'.