or|chid

or|chid «AWR kihd», noun, adjective.

–n.

1. the flower of the orchid plant. An orchid has three petallike sepals and three petals, one petal being of special color and shape, often longer than the other two.

2. a plant bearing these flowers, which are often very beautiful. There are many kinds, making up a family of plants. Orchids are either terrestrial or epiphytic.

3. a light purple.

–adj.

1. light-purple.

2. having orchids; composed of orchids: »

an orchid lei.

╂[< New Latin orchid-, erroneous stem of Latin orchis a kind of orchid < Greek órchis an orchid; (originally) testicle (because of the shape of its root)]