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DictionarysaffronSpice
noun / adjective

saffron

SAF-run/ˈsæfrən/

An aromatic yellow-orange spice made from crocus stigmas.

The dried saffron threads turn the steeping water golden yellow.

A saffron crocus with its three red stigmas beside a tiny dish of dried saffron threads and a few threads steeping in golden-yellow water, making the botanical source and spice recognizable together.
Etymology
saffronArabicsaffron

The Arabic ancestor names the spice itself, but its deeper origin is unknown. The spice’s deep orange color also gave English a color word.

In context

SuperfoodEvolution3:28
harvesting saffron stigmas can only be achieved through hand harvesting them one by one and is therefore very labor intensive luckily a small amount of saffron goes a long way to spice up a dish
What are Saffron Health Benefits? Why It's Called the "Gold" of Spices

More examples

  • She steeps saffron threads in warm water before cooking.
  • A pinch of saffron flavors the entire pot of soup.
  • We serve saffron rice alongside the roasted vegetables.

Forms

saffron