oncidium

noun

on·cid·i·um än-ˈsi-dē-əm

äŋ-ˈki-

: any of a genus (Oncidium) of showy tropical American chiefly epiphytic orchids

Examples of oncidium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Consider the oncidium, whose delicate sideways sprays of vivid blooms suggest a model mobile by Alexander Calder. —

Adrian Higgins, idahostatesman, 21 Feb. 2018 This is a variety named Lemon Drop, a type of oncidium orchid. —

Adrian Higgins, idahostatesman, 21 Feb. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oncidium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, genus name, from Greek ónkos "bulk, mass, body" + New Latin -idium -idium — more at onco-

Note: The genus name was introduced by the Swedish botanist Olof Swartz (1760-1818) in "Orchidernes slägter och arter upställde af O. Swartz," Kongl. Vetenskaps Akademien Nya Handlingar, tomus 21 (1800), p. 240. The orchid takes its name from the onkidion (glossed with Latin tūberculum "small protuberance") "in reference to a feature of the labellum" ("Slägtet som har sit namn af Ογκιδιον Tuberculum, i afseende på Labelli beskaffenhet …").

First Known Use

circa 1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of oncidium was circa 1868

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