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cactus

[ kak-tuhs ]

noun

plural cacti cactuses, cactus.
  1. any of numerous succulent plants of the family Cactaceae, of warm, arid regions of the New World, having fleshy, leafless, usually spiny stems, and typically having solitary, showy flowers.


cactus

/ kækˈteɪʃəs; ˈkæktəs /

noun

  1. any spiny succulent plant of the family Cactaceae of the arid regions of America. Cactuses have swollen tough stems, leaves reduced to spines or scales, and often large brightly coloured flowers
  2. cactus dahlia
    a double-flowered variety of dahlia
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • cactaceous, adjective
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Other Words From

  • cactus·like cactoid adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cactus1

1600–10; < Latin < Greek káktos cardoon
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cactus1

C17: from Latin: prickly plant, from Greek kaktos cardoon
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Example Sentences

It was a place where he was well-known for the cacti that he grew, the piano he played and the grandchildren he adored.

From BBC

Orchard Hills’ zone is filled with prickly pear cacti, Japanese honeysuckle and Formosa firethorn.

They marvelled that a cactus was regrowing next to where their SUV had melted.

From BBC

Stewart recommended cactus, succulents and an evergreen shrub called an African boxwood.

Succulent species range in size, shape and colour - some look like small multi-coloured buttons and some look like cacti, sprouting colourful flowers at certain times of the year.

From BBC

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What Is The Plural Of Cactus?

Plural word for cactus

The plural form of cactus can be either cacti, cactuses, or cactus. Cacti is most commonly used. Like many words derived from Latin, it is pluralized by replacing the -us ending with -i, as in fungus/fungi and nucleus/nuclei

However, the plural form cactuses, created by adding the typical -es to the end, is also correct. This alternative plural form is also acceptable for some other Latin-derived or related terms, as in focus/foci/focuses and radius/radii/radiuses.

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cactoblastiscactus dahlia