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
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Recent Examples of orchid from the Web
-
Manhattan penthouse and decorated with 70,000 dendrobium orchids flown in from Thailand.
-
It is well stocked with various pitcher plants, bog orchids, violets, gentians, sundews and flytraps.
-
Atop apple-green silk linens were fuchsia and purple flowers -- hydrangeas, sweet peas, roses and orchids -- in Tiffany bamboo vermeil containers.
-
All around decorative pots are filled with flowers and plants, not to mention the 20 live plants and orchids inside the home that add natural greenery and color.
-
Mary English drove about an hour from Landgrove, Vermont, to see the orchids on Thursday.
-
Princess Diana opted for a waterfall bouquet featuring gardenias, stephanotis, orchids, lily of the valley, roses, freesia, veronica and spider lilies in 1981.
-
This particular orchid is considered rare in Vermont.
-
Each spring and summer, a Vermont bog yields a rare spectacle — hundreds of wild orchids in bloom, drawing visitors from around the country.
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.
Illustration of orchid
Origin and Etymology of orchid
irregular from New Latin Orchis
ORCHID Defined for English Language Learners
orchid
playDefinition of orchid for English Language Learners
-
: a plant with flowers that are brightly colored and that have unusual shapes
-
: a light purple color
ORCHID Defined for Kids
orchid
playDefinition of orchid for Students
: a plant with usually showy flowers with three petals of which the middle petal is enlarged and differs from the others in shape and color
Learn More about orchid
-
See words that rhyme with orchid Spanish Central: Translation of orchid Nglish: Translation of orchid for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of orchid for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up orchid? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!