1. (n.) A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms rising separately from the bulb or corm. C. vernus is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; C. sativus produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn.

2. (n.) A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of iron (Crocus of Mars or colcothar) thus produced from salts of iron, and used as a polishing powder.

ablation ablative abradant abrasion aluminum oxide attrition attritive auto polish buffing burnish burnishing chafe chafing colcothar corundum crocus detrition dressing emery emery board emery paper erasure erosion erosive file filing fretting galling garnet gnawing grazing grinding lawn-roller limation nail file polish polishes polishing pumice pumice stone rasp rasping roller rottenstone rouge rubbing away sandblasting sanding sandpaper scouring scrape scraping scratch scratching scrub scrubbing scuff shining shoe polish silicon carbide silver polish sleeker slicker smooth smoother smoothing wax wear wearing away