ˈkälchə̇kəm, -älkə̇- noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, a kind of plant with a poisonous root, from Greek kolchikon, from kolchikos Colchian, from Kolchis Colchis
1. capitalized : a genus of chiefly fall-blooming Old World cormous herbs (family Liliaceae) having crocuslike flowers with a very long perianth tube and six stamens — see meadow saffron ; compare crocus
2. -s : a plant, bulb, or flower of the genus Colchicum
3. or colchicum root -s : the dried corm or dried ripe seeds of autumn crocus that contain the alkaloid colchicine and possess an emetic, diuretic, and cathartic action used chiefly for gout and rheumatism