[or.chid] n [irreg. fr. NL Orchis] (1845) 1: any of a large family (Orchidaceae, the orchid family) of perennial epiphytic or terrestrial monocotyledonous plants that usu. have showy 3-petaled flowers with the middle petal enlarged into a lip and differing from the others in shape and color
2: a light purple -- or.chid.like adj