noun Uncommon

saffron

SAF-ruhn

Saffron (noun) means a prized spice made from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, used for flavor and its deep golden color. Example: “The paella got its golden color from a pinch of saffron.”

noun

A prized spice made from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, used for flavor and its deep golden color.

"The paella got its golden color from a pinch of saffron."

A warm orange-yellow color, named after the spice.

"The monk's robe was dyed a rich saffron."

adj

Having an orange-yellow color.

"Saffron curtains filled the room with a warm glow."

How to use saffron

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA costly spice made from crocus flowers, or the golden-orange color it produces.

Common mistake

Saffron is famously expensive because each flower yields only a few threads, all hand-harvested.

Common pairings

a pinch of saffron saffron rice saffron-colored

Word forms

saffroned past tense, saffrons plural, saffrons singular

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The paella got its golden color from a pinch of _____.

Etymology

Traced back through Old French safran and Medieval Latin safranum to Arabic za'faran, ultimately from Aramaic.

Origin: Medieval Latin

Synonyms

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orange yellow saffron crocus

Frequently asked questions

What does “saffron” mean?

The word “saffron” means a prized spice made from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, used for flavor and its deep golden color. In plain terms, a costly spice made from crocus flowers, or the golden-orange color it produces.

How do you pronounce “saffron”?

“Saffron” is pronounced SAF-ruhn (/ˈsæfɹən/ in IPA).

How do you use “saffron” in a sentence?

Here is “saffron” used in a sentence: “The paella got its golden color from a pinch of saffron.”

What part of speech is “saffron”?

Depending on how it is used, “saffron” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “saffron” come from?

The word “saffron” comes from Medieval Latin. Traced back through Old French safran and Medieval Latin safranum to Arabic za'faran, ultimately from Aramaic.

Is “saffron” a common word?

“Saffron” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “saffron” have?

“Saffron” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prized spice made from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, used for flavor and its deep golden color.