monstera

noun

mon·​stera män(t)-'ster-ə  ˈmänz-tə-rə  ˈmän(t)-stə-rə 

plural monsteras or monstera

1

: any of a genus (Monstera) of tropical American climbing plants of the arum family that have deeply incised or perforated leaves and an erect floral spadix enclosed in a white to yellow concave bract and that include some grown for their large ornamental leaves

… monstera is a climbing or sprawling vine that supports itself with long tentacle-like aerial roots.

—Amy Bennett Williams

Monsteras do not flower or fruit indoors but may do so outdoors in protected locations …

—Redland (California) Daily Facts

see swiss cheese plant, swiss cheese vine

2

: the fruit of a monstera (especially Monstera deliciosa)

Lesser known fruits, such as the monstera (or Mexican breadfruit), baffle even enthusiastic diners.

—Jan Norris

Examples of monstera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Good Bones star quietly debuted a new haircut in an Instagram Reels post on July 24, showing herself in her greenhouse tending to her monstera plants. —Brittany Talarico, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024

However, this $5 faux monstera plant would have been a welcome addition to my dorm room decor. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 2 Aug. 2024

The light in the kitchen was pale and wintry; a fly buzzed around the thirsty monstera in the pot on the windowsill. —Nell Freudenberger, The New Yorker, 28 July 2024

The all-purpose potting mix works well for a variety of common indoor plants, such as pothos, spider plants, monstera, philodendron, and English ivy. —Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin Monstera, genus name, perhaps arbitrarily re-formed from Latin monstrum "omen, portent, monster entry 1"

Note: The genus name Monstera was introduced by the French botanist Michel Adanson (1727-1806) in Famille des plantes, I partie (Paris, 1763), p. 470. Adanson's taxonomic coinages are notable for their derivational irregularity and occasional inscrutability.

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1