noun
1A plant of a chiefly tropical family that includes love-lies-bleeding.
Family Amaranthaceae: several genera, especially Amaranthus
‘Several important crops are members of these families, with amaranth probably one of the most promising unexploited food and fodder crops.’- ‘Like other members of the amaranth family it is nutritious and highly decorative with reddish-purple markings on the stems.’
- ‘The genus Celosia, of the amaranth family, offers blooms that satisfy the florist or gardener who's looking for a more unusual plant.’
- ‘The grain amaranth has nine times more calcium than wheat, and 40 times more calcium than rice.’
- ‘Add the amaranth and remaining corn syrup and mix to combine.’
2A purple colour.
‘Then the dyed cloth becomes black and shines with amaranth.’- ‘The grey and the amaranth show on the surface through the beige.’
- ‘It is intense ruby in colour, tending towards a lively amaranth.’
Origin
Mid 16th century from French amarante or modern Latin amaranthus, alteration (on the pattern of plant names ending in -anthus, from Greek anthos ‘flower’) of Latin amarantus, from Greek amarantos ‘not fading’.
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