/am"euh ranth'/ , n.
1. an imaginary, undying flower.
2. any plant of the genus Amaranthus, some species of which are cultivated as food and some for their showy flower clusters or foliage. Cf. amaranth family .
3. Chem. a purplish-red, water-soluble powder, C 20 H 11 N 2 O 10 Na 3 , an azo dye used chiefly to color pharmaceuticals, food, and garments.
4. purpleheart.
[ 1545-55; amarantus, alter. of Gk amáranton unfading flower, n. use of neut. sing. of amárantos, equiv. to a- A- 6 + maran- (s. of maraínein to fade) + -tos verbal adj. suffix; -th- ánthos flower ]