cactus
cac.tus \'kak-t*s\ \-.ti-, -(.)te-\ n or cac.ti or cac.tus.es [NL, genus name, fr. L, cardoon, fr. Gk kaktos] pl : any of a family (Cactaceae, the cactus family) of plants with fleshy ste ms and branches with scales or spines instead of leaves