I. ˈsafrən sometimes -fə(r)n noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English saffran, saffroun, saffron, from Old French safran, from Medieval Latin safranum, from Arabic za'farān
1. or saffron crocus : a crocus ( Crocus sativus ) with purple flowers widely cultivated throughout southern Europe for the drug and dyestuff that it yields
2. : a deep orange-colored substance consisting of the aromatic pungent dried stigmas of saffron and used to color and flavor foods and formerly as a dyestuff and as a stimulant antispasmodic emmenagogue in medicine
3. or saffron yellow : a moderate orange to orange yellow — called also croceus
4. : any of several saffron-colored substances used in alchemy : crocus 2a
antimony saffron
5. : safflower 1, 3
6. also saffron tree : satinleaf
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to color or flavor with or as if with saffron