prickly pear

American  

noun

1. any of numerous cacti of the genus Opuntia, having flattened, usually spiny stem joints, yellow, orange, or reddish flowers, and ovoid, often edible fruit.

2. the usually prickly fruit of such a cactus.

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prickly pear British  

noun

1. any of various tropical cacti of the genus Opuntia, having flattened or cylindrical spiny joints and oval fruit that is edible in some species See also cholla nopal

2. the fruit of any of these plants

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Etymology

Origin of prickly pear

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

On Camino Escalante, Guthrie’s squat, orange brick house is set back from the road behind a lawn planted with prickly pear, agave, cholla and yucca.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

In a prickly pear thicket somewhere in eastern Spain, a troop of predatory ants moves in for the kill.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 15, 2024

Begay Sr. uses a walking stick to wind past pockets of yellow flowers, heavily trafficked anthills and the occasional prickly pear.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 30, 2023

But we still had a silly time doing math problems on the children’s menu, ordering virgin prickly pear margaritas and sharing two delicious house-made desserts.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2023

We knew there was a lot of water inside a prickly pear, even if Stormy didn’t have a clue.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac