cirio

American  

[sir-ee-oh] / ˈsɪr iˌoʊ /

noun

PLURAL

cirios

1. boojum tree.

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Etymology

Origin of cirio

< Mexican Spanish; Spanish: wax candle < Latin cēreus, noun use of cēreus made of wax, equivalent to cēr ( a ) wax + -eus -eous

Example Sentences

The plants it is named for were dubbed cirios — or candles — in Spanish, evidently because of their resemblance to tapered church candles at the missions nearby.

From Seattle Times

The plants it is named for were dubbed cirios - or candles - in Spanish, evidently because of their resemblance to tapered church candles at the missions nearby.

From Washington Times

Among the endemic plants were oddities, like the cirio itself, a tree that looks like the tentacles of a subterranean creature, rising and twisting from the parched earth.

From New York Times