cactus

plural cacti · plural cactuses · plural cactusses

1. biologyAny member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.

   On the mountains a few junipers and piñons are found, and cactuses, agave, and yuccas, low, fleshy plants with bayonets and thorns.

   1895, J[ohn] W[esley] Powell, chapter I, in Canyons of the Colorado, Meadville, PA: Flood & Vincent; republished as The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons, New York: Dover, 1961, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 22

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   This was another experimental garden started under Dr. Berry as a ‘Nopalry’ or place for the rearing of the cochineal insect on cacti, which however, became a sort of experimental garden where exotic plants were received as they arrived in the Port of Madras and were nursed and looked after until they could be despatched to the interior stations.

   1960, A. K. Yegna Narayan Aiyer, P. Abraham, Cultivation of Cloves in India (I.C.A.R. Bulletin), New Delhi: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, →OCLC, page 5

   Three years later, the unwatered cactus was still about two feet tall, a dark green color. The watered cactus was a paler green, its trunk visibly swollen with moisture. It had grown to be over five feet tall.

   2013, Leslie Morgan Steiner, The Baby Chase

2. Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, such as euphorbs.
3. broadlyA vivid green color inspired by the color of cacti.

1. AustraliaNew Zealandnot comparableslangNon-functional, broken, exhausted, dead.

   ‘It′s cactus,’ Rod, the helicopter pilot, said at the sound of the piston ring shattering.

   2009, Will Chaffey, Swimming with Crocodiles: An Australian Adventure, page 108

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   I wouldn't mind throwing it away if it's cactus except for the VCR part which works fine, so then I'd be up for a new VCR as well.

   2001 July 8, Dave, “TV Problems”, in aus.electronics (Usenet)

   I would say it's cactus. Water conducts & destroys components & PCBs very easily. Hence the water-resistant phones.

   2004 August 25, AC, “water damage ???”, in alt.cellular.nokia (Usenet)

   Michael Armstrong: "Michael Armstrong, I represent Sonia Stevens." Sue "Boomer" Jenkins: "Oh, haven't you heard? She cactus." Armstrong "Yes, I realize that, and that's a terrible business.

   2018, “Fractured”, in Wentworth

   Synonyms: kaput

1. A city in Texas.
2. An unincorporated community in California.