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Definition of meadow saffron
meadow saffron
Plural:meadow saffrons
meadow saffron Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A poisonous, autumn-flowering European plant (Colchicum autumnale) of the lily family, characterized by pale purple, crocus-like flowers that emerge from the ground without leaves, and renowned as the natural botanical source of the alkaloid colchicine.
Example
"Farmers must carefully manage their pastures to prevent grazing cattle from ingesting meadow saffron, as the plant remains highly toxic even after being dried in hay."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for meadow saffronWord Nuance & Usage
Meadow saffron is highly toxic and should not be confused with the true saffron crocus, which produces the widely cultivated, edible spice.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The plant is named for its visual resemblance to the true saffron crocus, paired with 'meadow' to denote its typical habitat in damp, low-lying European grasslands.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Meadow saffron. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/meadow saffron