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Definition of lycaste
lycaste
/laɪˈkæstiː/
ly · cas · te
Plural:lycastes
lycaste Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any orchid of the genus Lycaste, native to the mountain forests of Central and South America, characterized by large, pleated leaves and distinctive, often fragrant, triangular flowers.
Example
"The botanical garden's greenhouse featured a stunning yellow lycaste that bloomed beautifully during the late winter."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for lycaste• Rhymes for lycaste
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 1843 by botanist John Lindley. The genus is named after Lycaste, a beautiful daughter of King Priam of Troy in Greek mythology.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Lycaste. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/lycaste