# saffron

/ˈsæfɹən/ (US) · /sˈæfɹɒn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saffron
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the spice

noun · CEFR B2

an expensive orange-yellow spice used to give food a special taste and a bright yellow colour.

For teachers: the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus used as a seasoning and colouring agent in cookery. Uncountable when referring to the substance.

- She added a pinch of saffron to the rice to give it a beautiful golden colour.
- Authentic paella requires high-quality saffron to achieve its signature aroma and deep yellow hue, though the spice remains the most expensive in the world.

### 3. the plant

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of crocus flower with purple petals that produces the spice.

For teachers: the autumn-flowering plant Crocus sativus, characterized by purple flowers and long, bright red stigmas.

- Farmers in the region have grown saffron for hundreds of years.
- Cultivating the saffron crocus is labor-intensive, as each flower must be hand-picked during a very short blooming window in autumn.

### 4. colour description

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

having a bright orange-yellow colour.

For teachers: having the specific orange-yellow colour of the saffron spice.

- The morning light gave the mountains a soft saffron glow.
- She chose a saffron silk for the bridesmaids' dresses, echoing the autumnal theme of the wedding.

### 5. to season or colour

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to add saffron to food for taste or to turn something yellow.

For teachers: to flavour or tint with saffron; by extension, to imbue something with a golden-yellow hue.

- The chef decided to saffron the broth to improve its presentation.
- The setting sun served to saffron the white cliffs, turning the limestone into a wall of pale gold.

## Examples

- She added a pinch of saffron to the rice.
- Traditional paella recipes require high-quality saffron to achieve the characteristic golden color and earthy aroma.
- Due to the labor-intensive process of harvesting the delicate stigmas by hand, saffron remains the most expensive spice by weight in the global market.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.