saffron
saffron Lexical Profile
saffron Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A highly valued, orange-yellow culinary spice and food coloring derived from the dried stigmas of the autumn crocus (Crocus sativus).
"The chef added a pinch of saffron to the paella to give it a vibrant golden hue and a subtle, earthy flavor."
A brilliant, vivid orange-yellow color resembling the spice.
"The monks walked in a procession through the temple courtyard wearing robes of bright saffron."
The autumn-flowering crocus (Crocus sativus) native to Eurasia, featuring purple flowers from which the valuable spice is harvested.
"Cultivating saffron requires immense manual labor, as each flower produces only three tiny thread-like stigmas."
• Rhymes for saffron
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French 'safran', via Medieval Latin 'safranum', borrowed from Arabic 'zaʿfarān', which is ultimately derived from Persian 'zarparan' (meaning 'gold strung').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.