orchid
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Orchid is a specific word for a plant known for striking flowers and unusual shapes. Flower is much broader and may mean either the whole plant or just the bloom, so it is less exact. Lily and rose are also specific flower names, but they suggest different plants with more familiar shapes and garden uses. Houseplant is broader still: it can mean any plant you keep indoors, even one with no large flowers. Use orchid when the special flower form matters, especially in homes, flower shops, or greenhouses. You can say Ben bought an orchid for his teacher, but not Ben bought a flowerpot houseplant for his teacher if you mean this exact plant.
Common collocations
Nouns
- orchid pot
- orchid show
- orchid farm
- orchid grower
Phrases
- buy an orchid
- grow orchids indoors
- water an orchid
Etymology
Orchid came into English through scientific Latin from Greek orkhis. In Greek, that word was also used for testicle, because the paired root bulbs of some orchids were thought to have that shape. English later kept orchid as the ordinary name for this plant group and for single plants grown at home or in gardens.