noun
Uncommon
cactus
KAK-tuhs
Cactus (noun) means a spiny, fleshy-stemmed plant, usually leafless, adapted to hot, dry desert climates. Example: “A single cactus sat on her windowsill, needing almost no watering.”
noun
1
A spiny, fleshy-stemmed plant, usually leafless, adapted to hot, dry desert climates.
"A single cactus sat on her windowsill, needing almost no watering."
adj
1
(Australian slang) Broken, ruined, or dead.
"I would say it's cactus. Water conducts & destroys components & PCBs very easily. Hence the water-resistant phones."
— AC, water damage ??? (2004)
"The old washing machine is cactus — time for a new one."
"‘It′s cactus,’ Rod, the helicopter pilot, said at the sound of the piston ring shattering."
— Will Chaffey, Swimming with Crocodiles: An Australian Adventure (2009)
How to use cactus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spiky desert plant; in Australian slang, "done for" or broken.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
prickly cactus
cactus garden
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Word forms
- Plural
- cacti, cactuses, cactusses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A single _____ sat on her windowsill, needing almost no watering.
Etymology
From the taxonomic genus name Cactus, coined by Linnaeus in 1752, from Ancient Greek kaktos, originally the name for a spiny thistle-like plant.
Class of 1752
cactus joined the language around 1752.
See the full Class of 1752 →
Frequently asked questions
What does “cactus” mean?
The word “cactus” means a spiny, fleshy-stemmed plant, usually leafless, adapted to hot, dry desert climates. In plain terms, a spiky desert plant; in Australian slang, "done for" or broken.
How do you pronounce “cactus”?
“Cactus” is pronounced KAK-tuhs (/ˈkæktəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “cactus” in a sentence?
Here is “cactus” used in a sentence: “A single cactus sat on her windowsill, needing almost no watering.”
What part of speech is “cactus”?
Depending on how it is used, “cactus” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “cactus” come from?
The word “cactus” dates back to around 1752 and comes from Ancient Greek. From the taxonomic genus name Cactus, coined by Linnaeus in 1752, from Ancient Greek kaktos, originally the name for a spiny thistle-like plant.
Is “cactus” a common word?
“Cactus” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cactus” have?
“Cactus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a spiny, fleshy-stemmed plant, usually leafless, adapted to hot, dry desert climates.
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