opuntia
noun
opun·tia
ō-ˈpən(t)-sh(ē-)ə 
: any of a large genus (Opuntia) of American cacti with usually yellow flowers and flat or cylindrical jointed stem segments typically studded with tubercles bearing spines or prickly hairs compare cholla, prickly pear
Examples of opuntia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The opuntia can be found scattered across the state, from our mountain to piedmont to coastal plain regions.
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Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2023
These parts of the garden have been showcases for spring flowers: poppy, lupine, sage, giant coreopsis, flannelbush, ceanothus and opuntia.
—Wes Janssen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2023
Many cacti, ranging from globulars to opuntias, some which are native to the Northwest and others from as far away as South America and Asia, are actually hardy here and take a minimal amount of care, which is a nice plus.
—oregonlive, 5 June 2020
At the start of the 1900s, an area of over 40,000 square kilometers in Australia was affected by opuntia, before it was controlled with bugs.
—Stephanie Bailey, CNN, 9 Dec. 2019
Choices include euphorbia resinifera for acropora (also known as staghorn coral); opuntia microdasys monstrose for turbinaria; deuterocohnia brevifolia for galaxea; and mammillaria pilcayensis (bristle brush cactus) for dendrogyra or pillar coral.
—Martina Schimitschek, sandiegouniontribune.com, 5 July 2018
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Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 27 July 2023
These parts of the garden have been showcases for spring flowers: poppy, lupine, sage, giant coreopsis, flannelbush, ceanothus and opuntia.
—Wes Janssen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2023
Many cacti, ranging from globulars to opuntias, some which are native to the Northwest and others from as far away as South America and Asia, are actually hardy here and take a minimal amount of care, which is a nice plus.
—oregonlive, 5 June 2020
At the start of the 1900s, an area of over 40,000 square kilometers in Australia was affected by opuntia, before it was controlled with bugs.
—Stephanie Bailey, CNN, 9 Dec. 2019
Choices include euphorbia resinifera for acropora (also known as staghorn coral); opuntia microdasys monstrose for turbinaria; deuterocohnia brevifolia for galaxea; and mammillaria pilcayensis (bristle brush cactus) for dendrogyra or pillar coral.
—Martina Schimitschek, sandiegouniontribune.com, 5 July 2018
Cite this Entry
“Opuntia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opuntia. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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