Illustration of saguaro
plural saguaros
: a tall columnar usually sparsely-branched cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) of dry areas of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that bears white flowers and a scaly reddish edible fruit and that may attain a height of up to 50 feet (16 meters)
called also giant cactus
Did you know?
Venture into the Arizonan desert on a May or June morning and you may see the saguaro in bloom. For many of our readers (such as those living in Arizona and southeastern California), this sight - and the word saguaro - won't be anything new. Or perhaps you know this emblem of all things Southwestern simply as the "giant cactus." The word saguaro originated in Ópata, a language spoken by peoples of the Sonoran Desert region of Mexico. It came into English by way of the Spanish spoken by the Mexican settlers of the American West. The very saguaros we see today may well have been around when the word was first noted, some 150 years ago - this amazing cactus can live for up to 200 years.
Examples of saguaro in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Tohono O’odham Nation reservation, which has about 10,000 residents according to census data, sprawls across a Connecticut-sized area of the Sonoran Desert with its iconic saguaro cactus and mesquite trees.
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Tom Hals, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Even desert plants are dying in this heat Leila Register / NBC News
As climate change makes heat waves more frequent, intense and long-lasting, experts say the severe conditions are testing desert plants known for their resilience, including saguaro cacti and agave.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2024
Tucson's inclusion is due to its famous saguaro cacti, the largest cactus species in the U.S. People can see these prickly giants at Saguaro National Park, which includes a west side and an east side tract.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024
Tucson, Arizona This cultural and wellness hub in the heart of the Sonoran Desert is famed for its saguaro cacti, but visitors might not know it’s also recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, thanks to its culinary scene that is a vibrant blend of Mexican and Native American traditions.
—Sunset Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
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Tom Hals, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Even desert plants are dying in this heat Leila Register / NBC News
As climate change makes heat waves more frequent, intense and long-lasting, experts say the severe conditions are testing desert plants known for their resilience, including saguaro cacti and agave.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2024
Tucson's inclusion is due to its famous saguaro cacti, the largest cactus species in the U.S. People can see these prickly giants at Saguaro National Park, which includes a west side and an east side tract.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 11 Sep. 2024
Tucson, Arizona This cultural and wellness hub in the heart of the Sonoran Desert is famed for its saguaro cacti, but visitors might not know it’s also recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, thanks to its culinary scene that is a vibrant blend of Mexican and Native American traditions.
—Sunset Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for saguaro
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Cite this Entry
“Saguaro.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saguaro. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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