noun / adjective
orchid
OR-kid/ˈɔːrkɪd/
A flowering plant with distinctive, often showy and intricate blossoms.
The potted orchid displays pink-and-white blooms on an arching stem.
Etymology
Greek orkhis meant both “testicle” and “orchid”: the plant was named for the shape of its root, rather than its showy flowers.
In context
orchid blossoms are the ideal hide for ambush predators it's hardly surprising then that several mantis species have chosen these as their hunting ground
More examples
- She grows orchids near a bright window.
- Some orchid roots grow above the potting mix.
- Wild orchids bloom beside the forest trail.
Forms
orchid · orchids
Similar words
- flower
- Broader term for a blossom or any flowering plant.