plural nopals or nopales
nō-ˈpä-lās 
-ˈpa-
1
: any of a genus (Nopalea) of cacti of Mexico and Central America that differ from the prickly pears in having erect petals and scarlet flowers with the stamens much longer than the petals
broadly
: prickly pear
2
: a fleshy young tender stem segment of the prickly pear cactus (especially Opuntia ficus-indica) or the nopal cactus used as food
Examples of nopal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moreover, the nopal is rich in essential amino acids that cut down water weight (2).
—
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Oils are extracted from the seeds of the nopal’s fruit, then blended with natural butters and lemongrass oil, as well as cactus fibers that purify and exfoliate skin.
—Ella Riley-Adams Angela Koh Jameson Montgomery Jameson Montgomery Tom Delavan, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
That is the sign of the insects working beneath, drawing nourishment from the juices of the nopal and protecting themselves with the waxy powder.
—Fernanda Pesce, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
Her work centers around the cactus or nopal, which has deep cultural significance as a symbol of hope and endurance that is depicted on the Mexican flag and is part of the origin story of Aztec culture.
—Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2022
That is the true taste of tuna, the fruit of the nopal.
—Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022
Here, the Saporito family, hailing from Tabasco, Mexico, presses out a rainbow of seven different types of corn tortillas doctored up with homemade flavoring mixes—magenta beetroot, fiery orange guajillo, green nopal.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022
Nopales soaked in unaged whiskey form the base for a lime cocktail that’s simultaneously light from the lime and nopal, and substantial from the whiskey.
—Dakota Kim, Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Oils are extracted from the seeds of the nopal’s fruit, then blended with natural butters and lemongrass oil, as well as cactus fibers that purify and exfoliate skin.
—Ella Riley-Adams Angela Koh Jameson Montgomery Jameson Montgomery Tom Delavan, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
That is the sign of the insects working beneath, drawing nourishment from the juices of the nopal and protecting themselves with the waxy powder.
—Fernanda Pesce, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
Her work centers around the cactus or nopal, which has deep cultural significance as a symbol of hope and endurance that is depicted on the Mexican flag and is part of the origin story of Aztec culture.
—Dallas News, 14 Oct. 2022
That is the true taste of tuna, the fruit of the nopal.
—Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022
Here, the Saporito family, hailing from Tabasco, Mexico, presses out a rainbow of seven different types of corn tortillas doctored up with homemade flavoring mixes—magenta beetroot, fiery orange guajillo, green nopal.
—The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 8 Sep. 2022
Nopales soaked in unaged whiskey form the base for a lime cocktail that’s simultaneously light from the lime and nopal, and substantial from the whiskey.
—Dakota Kim, Sunset, 22 Jan. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nopal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Nopal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nopal. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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