prickly pear

noun

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

Origin of prickly pear

First recorded in 1605–15

Words nearby prickly pear

prickle cell layer, prickleback, prickly, prickly ash, prickly heat, prickly pear, prickly poppy, prickspur, pricky, pricy, pride

Example sentences from the Web for prickly pear

British Dictionary definitions for prickly pear

prickly pear

noun

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 (def. 2)
the fruit of any of these plants