n.1 any bulbous plant of the genus Hyacinthus with racemes of usu. purplish-blue, pink, or white bell-shaped fragrant flowers.
2 grape hyacinth.
3 the purplish-blue colour of the hyacinth flower.
4 an orange variety of zircon used as a precious stone.
5 poet. hair or locks like the hyacinth flower (as a Homeric epithet of doubtful sense).
Phrases and idioms:
wild (or wood) hyacinth BLUEBELL 1.
Derivatives:
hyacinthine adj.
Etymology: F hyacinthe f. L hyacinthus f. Gk huakinthos, flower and gem, also the name of a youth loved by Apollo