cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən 

ˈsi-

: any of a genus (Cyclamen) of Old World plants of the primrose family having showy nodding flowers

Examples of cyclamen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Constance Spry, the doyenne of British floristry, shared her favorite Christmas arrangement with the magazine: green moss spread over wire netting, then studded with cyclamens and ivy. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2023

Add a pop of color to those dreary winter days with a cyclamen plant in your home. —Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Jan. 2023

Persian violet is actually a cyclamen (Cyclamen coum) that can begin flowering as early as December, but usually produces its best show in February and early March. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2022

Flowering plants such as azalea, kalanchoe, cyclamen and amaryllis are good gifts to give during the winter. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Medieval Latin ciclamin-, ciclamen, going back to Latin cyclamīnos, cyclamīnum, borrowed from Greek kyklámīnos, probably from kýklos "circle, wheel" + -aminos (as in sēsáminos "made of sesame," from sēsamê sesame + -inos, suffix of materials); so named from the round tuber of Cyclamen graecum — more at wheel entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1550, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən 

ˈsik-lə-

: any of a genus of plants related to the primroses and often grown in pots for their showy nodding flowers