Illustration of orchid
- orchid 1
orchid
noun
or·chid ˈȯr-kəd 
1
: any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usually have showy 3-petaled flowers with the middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color
2
: a light purple
orchidlike
ˈȯr-kəd-ˌlīk
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Most plants growing in the orchid potting mixtures are watered every two to three days spring through fall. 
Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Outside of science, his interests included wine making, lapidary work and orchid cultivation. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 Use a balanced diluted fertilizer, such as a rose or orchid food, monthly. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 The pause that refreshes most is a daiquiri swirled with passion fruit liqueur and fancied up with an orchid. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Leaving ice near an orchid’s roots may damage them. Nick Goltz, The Conversation, 16 Aug. 2022 The 23-year-old digital-experience specialist now owns a rubber tree, an orchid, a monstera, a fern, a few succulents, a bouquet of flowers and a bonsai tree. Lauryn Azu, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2022 Her spirits lifted, however, when her old pals arrived at her home, surprising Smith with a cake, an orchid, and some Southwest swag. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 18 Aug. 2022 Along with having a rose, an orchid, a camellia and an azalea named for her, Rosalynn Carter is also a long-time advocate for monarch butterfly conservation. Ernie Suggs, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Tom Maccubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2022 Outside of science, his interests included wine making, lapidary work and orchid cultivation. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 6 Sep. 2022 Use a balanced diluted fertilizer, such as a rose or orchid food, monthly. Nicole Sours Larson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2022 The pause that refreshes most is a daiquiri swirled with passion fruit liqueur and fancied up with an orchid. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2022 Leaving ice near an orchid’s roots may damage them. Nick Goltz, The Conversation, 16 Aug. 2022 The 23-year-old digital-experience specialist now owns a rubber tree, an orchid, a monstera, a fern, a few succulents, a bouquet of flowers and a bonsai tree. Lauryn Azu, WSJ, 21 Aug. 2022 Her spirits lifted, however, when her old pals arrived at her home, surprising Smith with a cake, an orchid, and some Southwest swag. Catherine Garcia, The Week, 18 Aug. 2022 Along with having a rose, an orchid, a camellia and an azalea named for her, Rosalynn Carter is also a long-time advocate for monarch butterfly conservation. Ernie Suggs, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin orchid-, the base of the taxa names Orchideae and Orchidaceae — more at orchidaceous
First Known Use
1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing orchid
Kids Definition
orchid
noun
or·chid ˈȯr-kəd
: a plant with usually showy flowers with three petals of which the middle petal is enlarged and differs from the others in shape and color