hyacinth

Everyday

1. A hyacinth is a spring plant that grows from a bulb and has a thick spike of small, sweet-smelling, bell-shaped flowers, often blue, purple, pink or white. tree →
2. Hyacinth is a purplish-blue colour. tree →
3. (myth) In Greek stories Hyacinthus was a young man loved by the god Apollo; after he died a flower grew from his blood. tree →
4. A water hyacinth is a floating plant that can cover rivers and lakes. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons hyacinths are used to show how bulbs store food and grow roots, sometimes in a glass of water on the classroom windowsill. In gardens they are a sign of spring. Water hyacinth appears in lessons about invasive plants. Phrases: «a pot of hyacinths», «hyacinth bulbs», «blue hyacinths».

Examples

• We planted hyacinth bulbs in autumn and they flowered in March. tree →
• The hyacinths on the windowsill made the whole room smell sweet. tree →
• Our teacher grew a hyacinth in a jar so we could watch its roots. tree →
• Water hyacinth can block rivers so boats cannot pass. tree →
• Gran's favourite flowers are pink hyacinths. tree →
• The bridesmaids wore hyacinth-blue dresses. tree →
• Wear gloves when handling hyacinth bulbs, because they can make your skin itchy. tree →
• Rose, lily, and hyacinth--yes, I saw them all three. tree →

Note

Countable: one hyacinth, two hyacinths. Spelled with «y» then «i»: hy-a-cinth, said «HY-uh-sinth». Bulbs are poisonous to eat for people and pets. Not the same as a «hyena».