English[]
Pronunciation[]
Etymology[]
Latin cactus, from Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos), “‘cardoon’”).
Noun[]
Singular |
Plural |
Cactus ({{{1}}})
- (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, including euphorbs.
Usage notes[]
The most precise definition of cactus includes only plants from the New World (the Americas) belonging to the family Cactaceae. Only one species of cactus is native to the Old World, namely the genus Pereskea is a shrubby leafy cactus that grows in western Africa. However, many African species of the family Euphorbiaceae grow in forms and shapes that resemble large species of Cactaceae. These forms are colloquially referred to as “cactus”. In general, then, any usage of the term “cactus” to plants from the Old World refers to plants in the Euphorbiaceae.
Related terms[]
- cactaceous
- cactal
- cactoid
Derived terms[]
- barrel cactus
- beehive cactus
- bird’s nest cactus
- cactus cat
- cactuslike
- cactus wren
- compass cactus
- crown cactus
- dumpling cactus
- feather cactus
- finger cactus
- fishhook cactus
- foxtail cactus
- hedgehog cactus
- horse crippler cactus
- ladyfinger cactus
- mistletoe cactus
- nipple cactus
- noncactus
- old lady cactus
- orchid cactus
- organ pipe cactus
- pencil cactus
- Rainbow cactus
- rattail cactus
- strawberry cactus
- thimble cactus
- willow cactus, willow-cactus
Translations[]
|
|
See also[]
- succulent
Adjective[]
Cactus (comparative {{{1}}}, superlative {{{2}}})
Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
- Template:AU Non-functional, broken, exhausted.
Template:Commons
French[]
Pronunciation[]
Audio noicon (file)
Noun[]
Cactus m. (plural cactus)
- cactus
Latin[]
Etymology[]
From Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos), “‘cardoon’”).
Noun[]
cactus (genitive cactī); m, second declension
- the cardoon, Cynara cardunculus
Inflection[]
Template:Ladecl2 Template:La-decl-2nd
ar:cactus de:cactus el:cactus fr:cactus gl:cactus hr:cactus io:cactus kn:cactus hu:cactus ml:cactus nl:cactus pl:cactus ro:cactus ru:cactus simple:cactus fi:cactus sv:cactus ta:cactus te:cactus th:cactus vi:cactus zh:cactus