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Definition of cattleya

cattleya

/kætˈleɪ.ə/
cat · tle · ya
Plural:cattleyas
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cattleya Lexical Profile

cattleya Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any tropical epiphytic orchid of the genus Cattleya, native to Central and South America, widely cultivated for its large, showy, and often fragrant flowers featuring a prominent, ruffled lip.

Example

"For the spring gala, she wore an elegant corsage featuring a single, vibrant purple cattleya."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cattleya

• Rhymes for cattleya

• Nearby Words

cattish
cattle
cattleman
cattleya
catty
cattycorner
catullus

Word Origin & Etymology

Named in 1824 by botanist John Lindley after William Cattley (1788–1835), a British merchant and horticulturist who successfully cultivated the first specimen to bloom in England after it was used as packing material for other plants.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cattleya. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cattleya
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