orchid

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Phalaenopsis cultivar
Orchis lactea with root visible and a one-euro coin for scale.

Etymology

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From New Latin Orchideae, Orchidaceae, an irregular formation from Latin orchis, from Ancient Greek ὄρχις (órkhis, orchid, testicle) (ostensibly from the shape of the roots[1]). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally testicle plant).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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orchid (plural orchids)

  1. A plant of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), bearing unusually-shaped flowers of beautiful colours. [mid-19th c.]
  2. A light bluish-red, violet-red or purple colour.
    orchid:  

Synonyms

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Derived terms

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Translations

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Adjective

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orchid (not comparable)

  1. Having a light purple colour.

Translations

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Derived terms

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ ὄρχις”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press

Anagrams

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