prickly pear

noun

1

or prickly pear cactus : opuntia

especially : an opuntia with flattened, usually paddle-shaped, jointed stem segments compare cholla, nopal

2

or prickly pear fruit : the pulpy, pear- or egg-shaped, edible, yellow to purplish-red fruit of various prickly pears (such as Opuntia ficus-indica) see tuna entry 2

Illustration of prickly pear

• prickly pear 1

Examples of prickly pear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

New this year is the Prickly Ever After Rita, a sweet and sour margarita with orange liquor, lime, and prickly pear, and their all-new mocktail, the Prickly Melon Rush with Red Bull Watermelon, prickly pear, lime juice, and lemon lime soda. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026

Standouts include the Well Manoeuvred Monk (NA tequila, cucumber, mint, verjus, pineapple and sparkling water) and Tell Me Something Good (NA aperitif, prickly pear, coconut water, verjus and tonic). —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 6 Jan. 2026

Joining it is newcomer Prickly Ever After Rita, a margarita that leans into contrast by mixing tequila, citrus, and prickly pear for a balance of sweet and tangy, per a press release. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026

One of the park's best hikes, the Watchman Trail transports you to a land of sandstone spires and prickly pear cacti that bask under the desert sun year-round. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prickly pear

• aftercare
• anywhere
• billionaire
• chinaware
• debonair
• dinnerware
• disrepair
• doctrinaire
• earthenware
• everywhere
• frigidaire
• kitchenware

Kids Definition

prickly pear

noun

1

: any of numerous cacti with spines and usually flat stem segments

2

: the pear-shaped sweet edible pulpy fruit of a prickly pear