cactus
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[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology
Latin cactus, from Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos, “cardoon”).
[edit] Noun
cactus (plural cacti or cactuses or cactus)
- (botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
- Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, including euphorbs.
[edit] Usage notes
cactus properly refers to plants belonging to the family Cactaceae. With one exception, all are native to the New World (the Americas). The sole exception is Rhipsalis, a jungle epiphyte found in tropical Africa, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka, as well as North and South America. Informally, cactus is used to refer to any stem succulent adapted to a dry climate, notably species from genus Euphorbia with forms reminiscent of Cactaceae. To be precise, these succulents are correctly described as "cactoid" or "cactiform" unless they are actual members of the Cactaceae.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Derived terms
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[edit] See also
[edit] Adjective
cactus (not comparable)
- (Australian, slang) Non-functional, broken, exhausted.
- 2001 July 8, Dave, “TV Problems”, aus.electronics, Usenet:
- I wouldn't mind throwing it away if it's cactus except for the VCR part which works fine, so then I'd be up for a new VCR as well.
- 2004 August 25, AC, “water damage ???”, alt.cellular.nokia, Usenet:
- I would say it's cactus. Water conducts & destroys components & PCBs very easily. Hence the water-resistant phones.
- 2009, Will Chaffey, Swimming with Crocodiles: An Australian Adventure, page 108,
- ‘It′s cactus,’ Rod, the helicopter pilot, said at the sound of the piston ring shattering.
- 2001 July 8, Dave, “TV Problems”, aus.electronics, Usenet:
[edit] French
[edit] Pronunciation
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Audio (file)
[edit] Noun
cactus m. (plural cactus)
- cactus
[edit] Italian
[edit] Noun
cactus m. inv.
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Latin
[edit] Etymology
From Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos, “cardoon”).
[edit] Noun
cactus (genitive cactī); m, second declension
- the cardoon, Cynara cardunculus
[edit] Inflection
| Number | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | cactus | cactī |
| genitive | cactī | cactōrum |
| dative | cactō | cactīs |
| accusative | cactum | cactōs |
| ablative | cactō | cactīs |
| vocative | cacte | cactī |
[edit] Spanish
[edit] Etymology
See cacto.
[edit] Noun
cactus m. (plural cactus)
- Alternative form of cacto.
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English nouns
- en:Botany
- English adjectives
- English uncomparable adjectives
- Australian English
- English slang
- English nouns with irregular plurals
- en:Plants
- French nouns
- French masculine nouns
- French plurals
- French countable nouns
- Italian nouns
- Latin terms derived from Ancient Greek
- Latin nouns
- Spanish nouns
- Spanish alternative forms
