orchid
n. countablen. a type of plant with beautiful, unusual flowers that often have bright colors and strange shapes. Many people grow them as house plants because they look exotic.
n. any plant of the family Orchidaceae, characterized by flowers with three petals, one of which is highly modified into a lip. Often epiphytic in tropical climates; widely cultivated for ornamental purposes.
She bought a purple orchid for her office desk.
The botanical garden features a climate-controlled room specifically for rare orchids that require high humidity.
While many orchids are prized for their delicate aesthetic, certain species have evolved complex mimicry to attract specific pollinators, demonstrating a high degree of evolutionary specialization.
From New Latin Orchideae, Orchidaceae, an irregular formation from Latin orchis, from Ancient Greek ὄρχις (órkhis, “orchid, testicle”) (ostensibly from the shape of the roots). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally “testicle plant”).