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Noun: prickly pear  prik-lee pehr
  1. Cacti having spiny flat joints and oval fruit that is edible in some species; often used as food for stock
    "Ranchers in arid regions sometimes burn the spines off prickly pear cactus to feed cattle";
    - prickly pear cactus
     
  2. Round or pear-shaped spiny fruit of any of various prickly pear cacti
    "The chef carefully peeled the prickly pear to use in a exotic dessert"

Derived forms: prickly pears

Type of: cactus, edible fruit

Part of: genus Opuntia, Opuntia

Encyclopedia: Prickly pear