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 tunaentry 2
Illustration of prickly pear
prickly pear 1
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To prevent streaks and patchiness, the formula infuses glycerin, avocado oil, and prickly pear seed oil to draw moisture into the skin.—Lily Wohlner, Allure, 9 Feb. 2026 Cactus paddles beaded with young prickly pears.—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026 Her brick home has a gravel driveway and a yard covered in prickly pear and saguaro cactus.—Jacques Billeaud, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026 In a jean jacket and black dress, Savannah Guthrie walked through prickly pear cactus fields, even pausing to poke the thorny plants.—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prickly pear