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

Glycerin and panthenol soften and smooth, while prickly pear extract boosts shine and maintains curl definition. —Malia Griggs, Glamour, 23 Dec. 2025

What do a nopal (a prickly pear cactus) a bicycle stand, crates, a wooden bench, a plastic table and worn knives have in common? —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Dec. 2025

Deeply pink and pretty sweet, prickly pear syrup can be easily found online. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025

Nopales, the iconic pads of the prickly pear cactus, feature prominently in Sonoran cuisine and are prepared and enjoyed in a number of ways, including raw; blended into smoothies; boiled and chopped and added to soups, stews, or salads; or grilled whole and served like a vegetarian steak. —Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025

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