kakˈtāsēˌē noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Cactus, type genus + -aceae
: a family of plants (order Opuntiales) that are nearly all American and common in desert areas and characterized chiefly by fleshy stems and branches on which the foliage leaves are much reduced or early deciduous being usually replaced by spines, scales, or hairs borne in areoles — see cactus 1
• cac·ta·ceous (ˈ)kak|tāshəs adjective