English Explanatory Dictionary

orchid

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A plant of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), bearing unusually-shaped flowers of beautiful colours.
  2. A light bluish-red, violet-red or purple colour.
adj
  1. Having a light purple colour.

Pronunciation

/ˈɔː.kɪd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-orchid.wav /ˈɔɹ.kɪd/

Word forms

orchid orchids

Etymology

From New Latin Orchideae, Orchidaceae, an irregular formation from Latin orchis, from Ancient Greek ὄρχις (órkhis, “orchid, testicle”) (ostensibly from the shape of the roots). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally “testicle plant”).

Synonyms

orchidea

Related words

orchis Cattleya clinandrium coralroot fringed orchis gold bee helleborine labellum ladies' tresses lady's slipper puttyroot rattlesnake plantain resupinate salep swamp pink twayblade

Derived words

ant orchid bee orchid bird's-nest orchid blue orchid boat orchid bog orchid Brazilian orchid tree bucket orchid butterfly orchid Christmas orchid common spotted orchid cup orchid donkey orchid dove orchid duck orchid early-purple orchid fly orchid fragrant orchid fringed orchid frog orchid ghost orchid heath spotted orchid helmet orchid Hooker's bog orchid Hooker's orchid hyacinth orchid leek orchid leopard orchid macroorchidism man orchid monkey orchid monorchid moth orchid musk orchid naked man orchid odontoglossum orchidaceous orchidarium orchid bee orchidectomy orchidelirium orchideous orchidist orchidlike orchidologist orchidology orchidomania orchidomaniac orchidopexy orchidophile orchid tree orchiopexy orchis pansy orchid phantom orchid polyorchid polyorchidism poor man's orchid scented orchid slipper orchid
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