Cactus

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkæktÊŠs/

Origin

Latin cactus, from Ancient Greek κάκτος (kaktos, "cardoon"), of Pre-Greek substrate origin.

Full definition of cactus

Noun

1. (botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.
2. Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, including euphorbs.

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 , 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.

Related terms

• cactaceous
• cactal
• cactoid

Derived terms

Adjective

1. (Australia, slang) Non-functional, broken, exhausted.
• 2001, July 8, Dave, TV Problems, 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 ???, 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.----