cyclamen

noun

cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən How to pronounce cyclamen (audio) ˈsi- How to pronounce cyclamen (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Beard lichens hang from the branches and cyclamens push up among tree roots that bulge from the earth like gnarled claws. — Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2025 Add a pop of color to those dreary winter days with a cyclamen plant in your home. — Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Jan. 2023 Flowering plants such as azalea, kalanchoe, cyclamen and amaryllis are good gifts to give during the winter. — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2022 This musky, floral and clean scent combines bergamot, jasmine, neroli, orange flower and cyclamen with sandalwood, blonde wood and white musk. — Kristin Corpuz, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2022 See All Example Sentences for cyclamen

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyclamen was circa 1550

Rhymes for cyclamen

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Browse Nearby Words

cyclamate
cyclamen
cyclamen aldehyde
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Cite this Entry

“Cyclamen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclamen. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cyclamen

noun
cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən How to pronounce cyclamen (audio)
ˈsik-lə-
: any of a genus of plants related to the primroses and often grown in pots for their showy nodding flowers

Medical Definition

cyclamen

noun
cy·​cla·​men ˈsī-klə-mən How to pronounce cyclamen (audio) ˈsik-lə- How to pronounce cyclamen (audio)
: any of a genus (Cyclamen) of Old World plants of the primrose family having showy, downward-curving flowers

More from Merriam-Webster on cyclamen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cyclamen

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