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

In the kitchen, his fridge and pantry were stocked with esoteric ingredients: a cactus glaze, cold pickled desert mallow shrub, prickly pear sambal, bee pollen shoyu, mesquite sap. —Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024

The ingredient list counts prickly pear and white sage extract, which helps protect skin from blue light and free radicals, respectively. —Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 2 Aug. 2024

Brush your hair back, warm up the product between the palms of your hands, and work it through—this formula is rich in prickly pear oil to add shine and dimension. —Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 8 July 2024

This bar soap is made with prickly pear and plant butters, and comes in the shape of a cactus pad—tucked into a lovely box. —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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