Acanthocereus

noun

Acan·​tho·​ce·​re·​us

-ˈsirēəs

: a genus of tropical American weak often trailing cacti (family Cactaceae) having nocturnal funnel-shaped white flowers and 3-angled spiny stems see pitahaya

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from acanth- + Latin cereus candle

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!