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Definition of barrel cactus

barrel cactus

Plural:barrel cacti
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barrel cactus Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of various stout, cylindrical, barrel-shaped cacti (especially of the genera Ferocactus and Echinocactus) native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico, characterized by prominent vertical ribs and heavy spines.

Example

"While hiking through the Sonoran Desert, the botanist stopped to document a massive barrel cactus adorned with bright yellow flowers."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for barrel cactus

• Nearby Words

barranquilla
barred grass snake
barrel
barrel cactus
barreleye
barron
barrow

Word Origin & Etymology

Named for its distinctive thick, cylindrical shape resembling a barrel. The word 'barrel' derives from Old French 'baril', and 'cactus' comes from Latin via the Greek 'kaktos'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Barrel cactus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/barrel cactus
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