cereus

noun

ce·​re·​us ˈsir-ē-əs 

plural cereus also cereuses

: any of various cacti (as of the genus Cereus) of the western U.S. and tropical America

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Latin, wax candle, from cera wax — more at cerumen

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cereus

• night-blooming cereus