orchid

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɔːkɪd/

noun

  • a plant with complex flowers that are often showy or bizarrely shaped, having a large specialized lip (labellum) and frequently a spur. Orchids occur worldwide, especially as epiphytes in tropical forests, and are valuable hothouse plants.
    • Family Orchidaceae: numerous genera and species

Derivatives

orchidist

noun

orchidology

Pronunciation: /-ˈdɒlədʒi/
noun

Origin:

mid 19th century: from modern Latin Orchid(ac)eae, formed irregularly from Latin orchis (see orchis)