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Glite Dictionary
orchid cactus

orchid cactus

7.8
A cactus with flat joined stems and large showy flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrkɪd ˈkæktəs/
translation icon : cactus orquídea
  • She keeps an orchid cactus on her windowsill because of its beautiful flowers.

Examples

  • The orchid cactus produces stunning, brightly colored blooms each spring.

  • The orchid cactus blooms beautifully in spring.

  • Gardeners prize the orchid cactus for its unique, flattened stems and striking blossoms.

  • I bought an orchid cactus for my garden.

  • The orchid cactus produced vibrant pink flowers that brightened the entire living room.

  • In the garden, the orchid cactus stood out with its unusual flat, branching stems.

  • Her orchid cactus thrived in the warm sunlight and attracted many visitors who admired its beauty.

Synonyms

epiphyllum
vsorchid cactus
  • Specialized
9.9

A tropical cactus with flat branching stems and large showy flowers often grown indoors

focuses on irregularly jointed stems and flower shape rather than cultivation details

Surface Forms

orchid cactus singular
orchid cactuses plural
orchid cacti plural

Morphology

orchid + cactus

The compound combines 'orchid' (a flowering plant) + 'cactus' (a spiny succulent), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a type of cactus with orchid-like, showy flowers. This follows regular English noun–noun composition; although botanical specifics (genus Epiphyllum, stem structure) are technical, the basic referent is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Orchid cactus gets its name from its look: it is a cactus that makes big, beautiful flowers which look like an orchid, so the name means 'a cactus with orchid-like flowers'.