Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Cephalocereus

noun
Ceph·a·lo·cereus

Definition of Cephalocereus 

: a large genus of tropical American cacti (family Cactaceae) having usually columnar erect stems topped with white wool, no leaves, and showy nocturnal flowers and including the old-man cactus

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for Cephalocereus

New Latin, from cephal- + Cereus

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Cephalocereus

Share Cephalocereus

Resources for Cephalocereus

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near Cephalocereus

cephalization

cephalob

Cephalobidae

Cephalocereus

cephalochord

cephalochordate

Cephalodiscus

Statistics for Cephalocereus

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Cephalocereus

What made you want to look up Cephalocereus? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

atone

to make amends

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Musical Words Quiz

  • gramophone
  • Which word describes a musical performance marked by the absence of instrumental accompaniment?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Syn City

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games