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). wild (or wood) hyacinth = BLUEBELL 1. hyacinthine adj.
[ F hyacinthe f. L hyacinthus f. Gk huakinthos, flower and gem, also the name of a youth loved by Apollo ]