oncidium

[ on-sid-ee-uhm ]

/ ɒnˈsɪd i əm /

Save This Word!

noun

any of numerous tropical American orchids of the genus Oncidium, having clusters of flowers showing great variety in size, form, and color.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also called dancing lady orchid.

Origin of oncidium

<New Latin (1800), equivalent to Greek onk(o)- (combining form of ónkos barb of an arrow) + New Latin -idium-idium; so called from the crests on the labellum

Words nearby oncidium

once-over, once-over-lightly, oncer, once upon a time, onchocerciasis, oncidium, on cloud nine, onco-, oncogene, oncogenesis, oncogenic

How to use oncidium in a sentence

This admirable collector was hunting for Oncidium splendidum, a stately flower not very uncommon once, but long extinct in Europe.
The Woodlands Orchids|Frederick Boyle
He was looking for orchids, however, and who could have expected to find an Oncidium buried among herbage in the open ground?
The Woodlands Orchids|Frederick Boyle
This is important, as it explains all the astounding projections on the labellum of Oncidium, Phalaenopsis, etc.
More Letters of Charles Darwin Volume II|Charles Darwin
Oncidium ornithorhynchum is an example; some like the odour of it very much, while it is disagreeable to others.
Orchids|James O'Brien

In this Oncidium, then, we have evidently a record of many bygone processes.
Omphalos|Philip Henry Gosse