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

Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink At the southern end of the Okanagan Valley, Osoyoos is technically too wet to qualify as a desert, but it is often called one because of its hot, dry summers and prevalent brush and prickly pear cactus. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026

This one contains prickly pear seed oil and cocoa seed butter to provide intense hydration, while repairing dryness and split ends. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 29 June 2026

Craft cocktails, like the high heat margarita (tequila Ocho Plata, agave nectar, lime juice, jalapeño syrup and prickly pear syrup) are $10. — Jenna Thompson june 18, Kansas City Star, 18 June 2026

Rapid volumetric heating accelerates dye diffusion and allows for deeper penetration of the prickly pear peel pigment molecules (betalain) into the wool fiber interior swollen by the heat. — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 17 June 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