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

What’s more, it’s infused with prickly pear and aloe vera to soothe and repair skin. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2025

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, prickly pear, vitamin A, ashwagandha | Size: 1.69 fl. oz. —Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2025

Formulated with olive oil, prickly pear, and apricot kernel oil, this formula thoroughly hydrates the skin and leaves it with a radiant finish. —Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025

After the flowers have run their course, prickly pear cactuses bear fruit, prickly pears (sometimes also called tuna), which are sweet and edible and often made into a jelly. —Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 25 Mar. 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