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

The elixir, which contains popular beauty care ingredients including squalane, moringa, prickly pear, and antioxidant-rich plant extracts, aims to protect the skin's barrier, keep the skin hydrated, and improve overall health. —Jordan French, USA Today, 1 May 2026

With this in mind, prickly pear margaritas are a staple here, as are nopales (edible cacti). —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 1 May 2026

Saguaros might reign supreme in the park, but cholla, prickly pear and barrel cactus also have a presence. —Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 27 Apr. 2026

The bar program, led by Jason Sorbet, balances classics with a few house signatures, including the Chloe Dancer — a mix of vodka, prickly pear liqueur, crème de mûre, lime, and soda—along with spirit-forward cocktails built around Tennessee whiskey. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 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