cactus
(ˈkæktəs)
n, pl -tuses or -ti (-taɪ)
1. (Plants) any spiny succulent plant of the family Cactaceae of the arid regions of America. Cactuses have swollentough stems, leaves reduced to spines or scales, and often large brightly coloured flowers
2. (Plants) cactus dahlia a double-flowered variety of dahlia
[C17: from Latin: prickly plant, from Greek kaktos cardoon]
cactaceous adj