nopal

American  

[noh-puhl, noh-pahl, -pal] / ˈnoʊ pəl, noʊˈpɑl, -ˈpæl /

noun

1. any of several cacti of the genus Nopalea, resembling the prickly pear.

2. the fruit of such a cactus, or of a similar cactus, as the prickly pear.

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nopal British  

/ ˈnəʊpəl /

noun

1. any of various cactuses of the genus Nopalea, esp the red-flowered N. cochinellifera, which is a host plant of the cochineal insect

2. a cactus, Opuntia lindheimeri, having yellow flowers and purple fruits See also prickly pear

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Etymology

Origin of nopal

1720–30; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl nohpalli

Example Sentences

Traces of color linger on masonry that was once slathered in bright red paint made by grinding cochinillas, wood lice that live on nopal cactuses.

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2023

I am once again eating nopal and have decided to take it with both of my meals.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2022

Heavy on the acidity, with a pronounced vegetal flavor, Fluère Smoked Agave not only tastes of its namesake, but nopal cactus, as well.

From Salon • May 3, 2022

Try the quarter chicken with charro beans and nopal salad.

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2022

I can literally walk up to any nopal in town and cut off a paddle.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez