cactus

noun cac·tus \ ˈkak-təs \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of cactus

plural cacti play \-ˌtī, -(ˌ)tē\ or cactuses also cactus

: 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

In the village of Teotitlán del Valle, learn how to make a traditional 12-ingredient mole and a cactus salad with a Zapotec cook.

— ashlea halpern, The Cut, "12 Epic, All-Inclusive Honeymoon Itineraries," 11 Apr. 2018
Conservationists see its acres of creosote bush and cholla cactus as a rare habitat for tortoises, pronghorn antelope and an elusive variety of mule deer.

— louis sahagun, latimes.com, "By ordering new land-use plan, Trump could spark a fight in California deserts," 16 Mar. 2018
Glassware and bar fixings are also refreshed with each menu, better to reflect the theme: that GDL cocktail, for example, is served in a goblet-like martini glass with a cactus stem, a cliché staple of any airport Mexican restaurant.

— mark ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "This San Francisco Bar's Menu Is an Airline Safety Card," 19 Jan. 2018
Once your holiday cactus plant stops blooming: Move it to a sunny window for the rest of the winter.

— NOLA.com, "This week's gardening tips: Caring for a Christmas cactus, keep Oxalis under control," 6 Jan. 2018
Kreidler adds some superfluous plot points (Joanna's now got a brother who died 15 years ago, Christina's expecting a rich art patron who never arrives) and a couple of overworked metaphors (a blooming cactus, a telling children's song).

— justin hayford, Chicago Reader, "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner," 27 Mar. 2018
And a lucky glimpse of their bushy tail skimming over cactuses and creosote bushes is fleeting.

— alex devoid, azcentral, "Back from the brink, the Sonoran pronghorn now roam an increasingly political landscape," 27 Mar. 2018
La Jardin Majorelle Footsteps away from the Musée Yves Saint Laurent awaits the serene Jardin Majorelle—whose array of cactuses, fountains and iconic pops of Yves Klein blue make for a truly wondrous stroll.

— jaimie potters, Marie Claire, "Weekend Trip Guide: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore in Marrakech, Morocco," 16 Mar. 2018
Some of the therapy took place an hour outside Scottsdale in Wickenburg (population: 6,300) at Gentle Path at the Meadows: an inpatient, men-only 38-acre compound of adobe cabins and cactuses.

— amy chozick, New York Times, "Where’s Harvey?," 9 Mar. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1738

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

CACTUS Defined for English Language Learners

cactus

noun

Definition of cactus for English Language Learners

: a plant that lives in the desert and that has many sharp points (called spines)

CACTUS Defined for Kids

cactus

noun cac·tus \ ˈkak-təs \

Definition of cactus for Students

plural cacti \-ˌtī, -tē\ or cactuses

: 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

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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cactus

Definition of cactus

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cactus

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