orchid

or·chid | \ ˈȯr-kəd

How to pronounce orchid (audio)

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Definition of orchid

1 : any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usually have showy 3-petaled flowers with the middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color

2 : a light purple

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Examples of orchid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web When a filter doesn’t cut it, potent anti-aging ingredients — like vanilla orchid and stable vitamin C — can restore skin. — Meg Hemphill, The Hollywood Reporter, "5 Skincare Must-Haves From Brands Used by Meghan Markle and Angelina Jolie," 18 Jan. 2020 The scents of wild mushrooms, red huckleberry, calypso orchids, and sword ferns always evoke an Endor vibe. — Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, "Relieve Stress with Visits to These Fragrant Places, from Lavender Farms to Redwood Groves," 7 Jan. 2020 Your favorite nursery may have a good selection of holiday plants such as Christmas cactus, phalaenopsis orchids, paperwhite, cyclamen and amaryllis on sale now that the Christmas rush is over. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "Winter gardening issues facing San Antonio yards and what to do about them," 2 Jan. 2020 Peat moss or one of the coarse fibers, such as osmunda or coir used for epiphytic orchids, are good choices of organic materials that aerate a potting mixture while at the same time retaining water. — Boston.com Real Estate, "Winter cactuses are hard to name but easy to grow," 25 Dec. 2019 Colorful African violets, gloxinia, cyclamen, orchids, ornamental peppers and Christmas cactus are blooming and readily available. — oregonlive, "Blooming houseplants make beautiful last-minute gifts," 21 Dec. 2019 Peat moss or one of the coarse fibers, such as osmunda or coir used for epiphytic orchids, are good choices of organic materials that aerate a potting mixture while at the same time retaining water. — Washington Post, "Winter cacti are hard to name but easy to grow," 17 Dec. 2019 But lying just beyond these urbanites is what many find surprising: the bald eagles, red bats, fringed orchids, sensitive ferns, and coyotes that also make their homes among us. — New York Times, "Respect the Hustle of Soda Can Raccoon and Murder Cat," 22 Nov. 2019 In orchids, myth and folk medicine meet The word of the day: orchis. — National Geographic, "Holographic elephants shine new light on tradition—and other innovations," 5 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'orchid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Orchid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orchid. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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