prickly pear
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of cactus: A plant belonging to the genus Opuntia, characterized by having flat, pad-like, and often spiny joints. 2. The edible fruit of this cactus: A round or pear-shaped fruit, which can be spiny, produced by certain prickly pear cacti.
Usage and Examples
- The prickly pear is a resilient cactus that thrives in arid environments.
- After carefully removing the spines, we enjoyed the sweet, juicy flesh of the prickly pear.
- The ranch uses prickly pear as a supplemental food source for the cattle during dry seasons.
Advanced Usage
- Botanical Context: In botanical terms, the flat pads of the plant are modified stems called cladodes, and the fruit is technically a berry.
- Culinary Context: The pads (nopales) and the fruit (tuna) of the prickly pear are both used in various cuisines, particularly in Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Variants and Related Words
- Prickly pear cactus: The full name for the plant itself.
- Opuntia: The scientific genus name for prickly pear cacti.
- Nopal: A term, especially in Spanish and culinary contexts, for the edible pad of the prickly pear cactus.
- Tuna: A term, especially in Spanish, for the edible fruit of the prickly pear cactus.
Synonyms
- Cactus pear: Another common name for the fruit.
- Indian fig: A name for certain species of .
Different Meanings
The term prickly pear refers specifically to the plant of the Opuntia genus and its fruit. It is not used as an idiom or phrasal verb. Its meaning is consistent within botanical, culinary, and agricultural contexts.
Noun
-
round or pear-shaped spiny fruit of any of various prickly pear cacti
-
cacti having spiny flat joints and oval fruit that is edible in some species; often used as food for stock
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