monstera

American  

[mon-ster-uh] / ˈmɒn stər ə /

noun

1. any of various tropical American climbing plants belonging to the genus Monstera, of the arum family, especially M. deliciosa, having split or perforated leaves and often grown as a houseplant.

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monstera British  

/ mɒnˈstɪərə /

noun

1. any plant of the tropical climbing genus Monstera, some species of which are grown as greenhouse or pot plants for their unusual leathery perforated leaves: family Araceae. M. deliciosa is the Swiss cheese plant

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Etymology

Origin of monstera

< New Latin (1763), apparently irregular derivative of Latin mōnstrum monster; see -a ²

Example Sentences

There are two deck chairs, a rattan sofa set with blankets and pillows, a small, circular table, a half-yellowed Monstera plant.

From Slate • Oct. 29, 2022

Hooked on houseplants like Monstera, Philodendron and pothos?

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2022

An epiphyte like the Monstera deliciosa, the staghorn fern has its roots attach to tree trunks and branches in tropical forests, and it gets its nutrients from the water and air.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 1, 2021

Commonly known as the “Swiss cheese plant” because of the unique cutouts in its broad leaves, the Monstera deliciosa can grow up trees in the wild.

From Washington Post • Oct. 13, 2021

Monstera is a tropical American genus of climbing shrubs, with large often much-perforated leaves; the fruiting spikes of a Mexican species, M. deliciosa, are eaten.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various