orchid

¹

[ awr-kid ]

noun

1. any terrestrial or epiphytic plant of the family Orchidaceae, of temperate and tropical regions, having usually showy flowers. Compare orchid family.
2. the flower of any of these plants.
3. a bluish to reddish purple.

orchid-

²

1. variant of orchido- before a vowel:

   orchidology.

orchid

/ ˈɔːkɪd /

noun

1. See spotted orchid, spider orchid, scented orchid, pyramidal orchid, purple-fringed orchid, monkey orchid, man orchid, lizard orchid, lady orchid, frog orchid, fly orchid, burnt-tip orchid, bee orchid
   any terrestrial or epiphytic plant of the family Orchidaceae, often having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colours, specialized for pollination by certain insects See bee orchid burnt-tip orchid fly orchid frog orchid lady orchid lizard orchid man orchid monkey orchid purple-fringed orchid pyramidal orchid scented orchid spider orchid spotted orchid

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchid¹

1835–45; < New Latin Orchideae (later Orchidaceae ) family name, equivalent to Latin orch ( is ) a plant ( orchis ) + -ideae, irregular suffix ( -idae ); -id ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of orchid¹

C19: from New Latin Orchideae; see orchis

Example Sentences

More than 30 percent, or 112 species, of the total flora growing along the river, including orchids and legumes, are typically found in coastal lagoons or along shorelines, the researchers say.

From Science News

Fluorescent lights are high output but don’t produce much heat, so they’re also good for plants like orchids, which can be very finicky.

From Popular-Science

Structurally related to vanillin—the molecule in special orchid pods responsible for vanilla’s creamy, iconic flavor—capsaicin is a trickster.

From Popular-Science

The most commonly used vanilla orchid for culinary purposes is vanilla planifolia, native to Mexico, and grown across the Caribbean, northern South America, Central America, and Madagascar.

From Eater

To start with, the vanilla orchids only open one day a year, and they must be hand-pollinated because this particular flower has only one natural pollinator — the Melipona bee, which is native to Central America.

From Eater

"I found it completely riveting," said Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief.

From The Daily Beast

In the dusty corridors of power, Disraeli was an exotic orchid whose drag enlivened many a boring wet Monday.

From The Daily Beast

In the center of the room, a circular glass table displayed a single white orchid.

From The Daily Beast

She had been raised as a debutante, a beautiful, delicate orchid from Vancouver, Canada.

From The Daily Beast

On my kitchen windowsill (yes, I have a windowed kitchen, my first ever), are four orchid plants.

From The Daily Beast

The boys light Roman candles, shooting crimson and orchid and brass-flamed astonishers into the clouds.

From Project Gutenberg

The Iris is to the garden what the Orchid is to the greenhouse.

From Project Gutenberg

The Orchid family is certainly the most curious in the vegetable kingdom, as it is almost the most extensive, except the Grasses.

From Project Gutenberg

This was not a sea-weed, but a lichen—probably the same from which the orchid purple of modern art is prepared.

From Project Gutenberg

A beautiful pink and white ground orchid (Calanthe) was plentiful.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• admiration
• adulation
• applause
• blessing
• commendation
• courtesy
• endorsement
• homage
• ovation
• tribute