Illustration of prickly pear
- prickly pear 1
prickly pear
noun
1
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
Examples of prickly pear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pair a true-to-Tempe prickly pear margarita with an unforgettable golden hour, and toast your good fortune for having taken full advantage of the temptations of Tempe.
—
By
sunset, Sunset Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023
The spicy mango prickly pear version was praised — and showered with exclamation points — for its spice-forward flavor.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Or target dry skin with an exfoliating Prickly Pear Renewal treatment (a body polish, followed by a hydrating prickly pear oil massage).
—Kate Donnelly, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Give the prickly pear horchata a try, or opt for the Horchata Carlota, named after a Mexican dessert made with cookies and lime. Eat Drink D-FW The latest food and drink reviews, recipes and info on the D-FW food scene.
—Imelda García, Dallas News, 8 June 2023
The ultra-lightweight cream is formulated with antioxidant-rich dragon fruit extract, softening prickly pear seed oil, and shine-boosting meadowfoam seed oil.
—Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
Also known as the prickly pear cactus, the nopal cactus has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — both of which can be useful for anyone who frequently travels or is in need of a reset.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2023
It’s formulated with intensely hydrating prickly pear extract, which is rich in omega fatty acids to ultimately make hair look flawless.
—Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
Specialty cocktail offerings include the Doves & Devils Margarita ($55) made with pomegranate, prickly pear and Mexican lime and topped with a cardamom-ginger foam tableside.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023
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By
sunset, Sunset Magazine, 10 Oct. 2023
The spicy mango prickly pear version was praised — and showered with exclamation points — for its spice-forward flavor.
—Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Or target dry skin with an exfoliating Prickly Pear Renewal treatment (a body polish, followed by a hydrating prickly pear oil massage).
—Kate Donnelly, Forbes, 17 July 2023
Give the prickly pear horchata a try, or opt for the Horchata Carlota, named after a Mexican dessert made with cookies and lime. Eat Drink D-FW The latest food and drink reviews, recipes and info on the D-FW food scene.
—Imelda García, Dallas News, 8 June 2023
The ultra-lightweight cream is formulated with antioxidant-rich dragon fruit extract, softening prickly pear seed oil, and shine-boosting meadowfoam seed oil.
—Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
Also known as the prickly pear cactus, the nopal cactus has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — both of which can be useful for anyone who frequently travels or is in need of a reset.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2023
It’s formulated with intensely hydrating prickly pear extract, which is rich in omega fatty acids to ultimately make hair look flawless.
—Rebecca Norris, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
Specialty cocktail offerings include the Doves & Devils Margarita ($55) made with pomegranate, prickly pear and Mexican lime and topped with a cardamom-ginger foam tableside.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prickly pear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near prickly pear
Cite this Entry
“Prickly pear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prickly%20pear. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
prickly pear
noun1
: any of numerous cacti with spines and usually flat stem segments
2
: the pear-shaped sweet edible pulpy fruit of a prickly pear
More from Merriam-Webster on prickly pear
Nglish: Translation of prickly pear for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prickly pear
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