nopal

no·pal  (npl, n-päl, -pl)

n.

1. Any of various cacti of the genera Nopalea or Opuntia, including the prickly pear and similar species.

2. The fleshy, oval, edible pad of such a cactus.

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[American Spanish, from Nahuatl nopalli.]

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nopal [ˈnəʊp^əl]

n

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) any of various cactuses of the genus Nopalea, esp the red-flowered N. cochinellifera, which is a host plant of the cochineal insect

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) a cactus, Opuntia lindheimeri, having yellow flowers and purple fruits See also prickly pear

[from Spanish, from Nahuatl nopálli cactus]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	nopal - cactus having yellow flowers and purple fruits Opuntia lindheimeri prickly pear, prickly pear cactus - cacti having spiny flat joints and oval fruit that is edible in some species; often used as food for stock
	2.	nopal - any of several cacti of the genus Nopalea resembling prickly pears cactus - any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines genus Nopalea, Nopalea - a genus of the cactus family with scarlet flowers