cactus

English

/ˈkæktəs/

noun
Definitions
  • (botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
  • Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, such as euphorbs.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cactus derived from Ancient Greek κάκτος (cardoon).

Origin

Ancient Greek

κάκτος

Gloss

cardoon

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms