Queen of the Night

noun

variants or queen of the night or Queen of the Night cactus or queen of the night cactus

: night-blooming cereus

Perhaps the most popular night bloomers are the jasmine, like my neighbor's, or the night-blooming cereus, sometimes called "Queen of the Night" because of its showy, fragrant white flowers that only open at night.—

Jill Carroll

also : the usually large, white flower of a night-blooming cereus

Among the things that make it different from a daylight visit: night-blooming flowers, such as queen of the night, a white cactus blossom that unfolds when the sun goes down. —

Randy Cordova

Word History

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Queen of the Night was in 1870

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Queen of the Night.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Queen%20of%20the%20Night. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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