orchid

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɔɹ.kɪd/ UK /ˈɔː.kɪd/ See IPA manual

noun adj Freq #13648

Meanings

1

noun
A plant with unusually shaped flowers in beautiful colours, popular as a houseplant.

She kept a delicate white orchid on the windowsill.
2

noun
A light purple or violet-red colour.

The bridesmaids wore dresses in soft orchid.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

orchidea

Word family

Forms orchideousorchids

Derived forms macroorchidismmonorchidodontoglossum orchidaceousorchidariumorchidectomyorchideliriumorchideousorchidistorchidlikeorchidologistorchidology

Etymology

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). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally “testicle plant”).

Orchideae la-new orchis Latin ὄρχις Ancient Greek

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Topics

Describing Qualities

# orchid

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** ˈɔɹ.kɪd
**IPA (UK):** ˈɔː.kɪd
**Frequency rank:** 13648

## Meanings
1. A plant with unusually shaped flowers in beautiful colours, popular as a houseplant.
2. A light purple or violet-red colour.

## Examples
- She kept a delicate white orchid on the windowsill.
- The bridesmaids wore dresses in soft orchid.

## Synonyms
- orchidea

## Derived Forms
- macroorchidism
- monorchid
- odontoglossum
- orchidaceous
- orchidarium
- orchidectomy
- orchidelirium
- orchideous
- orchidist
- orchidlike
- orchidologist
- orchidology

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: Orchideae
- Root: orchis
- Root: ὄρχις

## Etymology
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). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally “testicle plant”).

## AI Etymology
Orchid comes 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). Supplanted Middle English ballokwort (literally “testicle plant”). The historical chain includes la-new Orchideae, Latin orchis, and Ancient Greek ὄρχις. Modern senses include a plant with unusually shaped flowers in beautiful colours, popular as a houseplant and a light purple or violet-red colour. The wider word family includes derivatives such as macroorchidism, monorchid, odontoglossum, orchidaceous, orchidarium, and orchidectomy.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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orchid

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