indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Gender Masculine & Feminine
Usage English
Meaning & History
From the genus name of a type of night-blooming cacti found from California to Chile, from Latin cereus "waxen, waxy", which was also used as a substantive to mean "a wax-light, -taper" ("particularly those brought by clients to their patrons as presents at the time of the Saturnalia"), and so called because the cactus' shape "suggests a candle."