n 1  :  the deep orange aromatic pungent dried stigmas of a purple-flowered crocus used to color and flavor foods and formerly as a dyestuff and as a stimulant antispasmodic emmenagogue in medicine  2  :  a purple-flowered crocus (Crocus sativa) that is the source of saffron - called also saffron crocus  .
 
 
 
Similar sounding terms:  soph·o·rine  sov·er·eign  Zeph·i·ran 
 
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