Word
orchid
Phoneticsor·chid
US/ˈɔɹkɪd/
UK/ˈɔːkɪd/
Definition
n. a plant that grows beautiful, strangely shaped flowers in many bright colours.
n. any plant of the family Orchidaceae, noted for having flowers with a highly specialised structure and often vibrant pigmentation.
Examples
“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.”
Examples
simple
“She bought a purple orchid for her office desk.”
contextual
“The botanical garden features a climate-controlled room specifically for rare orchids that require high humidity.”
complex
“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.”
Usage
Countable noun.
Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/orchid