■ noun ( plural cacti -tʌɪ or ~es ) a succulent plant of a large family native to arid regions of the New World, with a thick fleshy stem which typically bears spines, lacks leaves, and has brilliantly coloured flowers. [Family Cactaceae.]
Derivatives
cactaceous adjective
Origin
C17 (in the sense 'cardoon'): from L., from Gk kaktos 'cardoon'.