orchid-

¹ American  

1. variant of orchido- before a vowel.

   orchidology.

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orchid ² American  

[awr-kid] / ˈɔr kɪd /

noun

1. any terrestrial or epiphytic plant of the family Orchidaceae, of temperate and tropical regions, having usually showy flowers.

2. the flower of any of these plants.

3. a bluish to reddish purple.

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orchid British  

/ ˈɔːkɪd /

noun

1. any terrestrial or epiphytic plant of the family Orchidaceae, often having flowers of unusual shapes and beautiful colours, specialized for pollination by certain insects See bee orchid burnt-tip orchid fly orchid frog orchid lady orchid lizard orchid man orchid monkey orchid purple-fringed orchid pyramidal orchid scented orchid spider orchid spotted orchid

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Usage

What does orchid- mean? Orchid- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning either “testicle” (testis) or "orchid." In medicine, it refers to testicles. In botany, it refers to orchid flowers.Orchid- comes from the Greek órchis, meaning “testicle.” How did the Greek word for testicle give rise to the name of a type of beautiful flower? Well, the roots of orchids were thought to resemble testicles. Learn more at our entry for orchis.Orchid- is a variant of orchido-, which loses its -o- when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels.Want to know more? Read our Words That Use orchido- article.The combining forms orchi-, as in orchiectomy, and orchio-, as in orchioplasty, are other variants of this combining form used to refer to testicles in medical terms.

Etymology

Origin of orchid

1835–45; < New Latin Orchideae (later Orchidaceae ) family name, equivalent to Latin orch ( is ) a plant ( orchis ) + -ideae, irregular suffix ( -idae ); -id ²

Example Sentences

Now, with no queens or kings, it had grown wild, a forest of huge trees laced with dragon-flowers and firelocks and bushes of orchids.

From Literature

I let Teresita carry the orchids and follow her up to the stage, where Fidel waits for us, smiling and stroking his beard.

From Literature

You could see it in summer, when the land was a riot of lingonberries and crowberries and cloudberries, mixed in among the moss and tiny orchids and the reddish-purple sweet vetch.

From Literature

“Paul lectured all over the world, teaching people about different species of orchids in a very accessible way,” Rose said.

From Los Angeles Times

Since she hired staff to deal with it, areas that were barren ground have begun bursting with oxlips and early purple orchids.

From BBC

Related Words

• admiration
• adulation
• applause
• blessing
• commendation
• courtesy
• endorsement
• homage
• ovation
• tribute