Definition of cactus
cacti
play \-ˌtī, -(ˌ)tē\ orcactuses
alsocactus
: any of a family (Cactaceae, the cactus family) of plants that have succulent stems and branches with scales or spines instead of leaves and are found especially in dry areas (such as deserts)
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Recent Examples of cactus from the Web
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Trudi’s 27-year-old daughter, Olivia, and their Weimaraner dogs, Luna and Hershey, accompany us on a ride through the high desert of cactus, mesquite, aromatic wormwood and desert lavender.
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The dairy-free dessert is made with flavors of cactus and lime and topped with a sprinkle of tajin, a mixture of dry chile peppers, lime and salt.
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The game’s early moments take you on a few horse rides that, not coincidentally, place you in front of some gorgeous vistas, overlooking vast mountains and ranges of cacti.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cactus'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of cactus
New Latin, genus name, from Latin, cardoon, from Greek kaktos
First Known Use: 1738
CACTUS Defined for English Language Learners
cactus
playDefinition of cactus for English Language Learners
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: a plant that lives in the desert and that has many sharp points (called spines)
CACTUS Defined for Kids
cactus
playDefinition of cactus for Students
cacti
\-ˌtī, -tē\ orcactuses
: any of a large group of flowering plants of dry regions that have thick juicy stems and branches with scales or spines
Learn More about cactus
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See words that rhyme with cactus Spanish Central: Translation of cactus Nglish: Translation of cactus for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cactus
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