Cactus vs. Succulent — What's the Difference?

A cactus (plural cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae, a family comprising about 127 genera with some 1750 known species of the order Caryophyllales. The word "cactus" derives, through Latin, from the Ancient Greek κάκτος, kaktos, a name originally used by Theophrastus for a spiny plant whose identity is now not certain.

Full of juice or sap; juicy.

Any of numerous succulent, spiny, usually leafless plants of the family Cactaceae, native chiefly to arid regions of the Americas, having variously colored, often showy flowers with numerous stamens and petals.

(Botany) Having thick, fleshy, water-storing leaves or stems.

Any of several similar plants.

Highly interesting or enjoyable; delectable

(botany) Any member of the family Cactaceae, a family of flowering New World succulent plants suited to a hot, semi-desert climate.

A succulent plant, such as a sedum or cactus.

Any succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem bearing spines but no leaves, such as euphorbs.

Juicy or lush.

Non-functional, broken, exhausted, dead.

Luscious or delectable.

Any plant of the order Cactacæ, as the prickly pear and the night-blooming cereus. See Cereus. They usually have leafless stems and branches, often beset with clustered thorns, and are mostly natives of the warmer parts of America.

(botany) Having fleshy leaves or other tissues that store water.

Any spiny succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World

A succulent plant.

Full of juice; juicy.

A plant adapted to arid conditions and characterized by fleshy water-storing tissues that act as water reservoirs

Full of juice;