: 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
Recent Examples on the WebSeeing Bernice, like the surprise of seeing a beautiful peacock at my front door, the butterflies in my backyard and the budding orchids, brought me a bit of happiness that was sorely needed in my life.—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 7 June 2024 Vendors will be selling orchids, carnivorous plants, bromeliads, cacti, cycads, palms, epiphyllum, tillandsia, terrarium plants, begonias and tree ferns.—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2024 On our first evening the piano bar—resplendent in gold Thai silks, with tiger orchids blooming across the green carpet—was filled with laughter, the glug-glug-glug of Champagne pouring, and the tinkle of keys.—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2024 Additionally, Yosemite's rich plant life features more than 1,500 vascular plant species, including towering giant sequoias, the Yosemite bog orchid, which is only found in Yosemite National Park, beautiful blue lupine, and, at lower elevations, California poppy.—Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for orchid
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin orchid-, the base of the taxa names Orchideae and Orchidaceae — more at orchidaceous
: any plant or flower of a large family of plants that have usually showy flowers with three petals of which the middle petal is enlarged and differs from the others in shape and color
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