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Definition of opuntia
opuntia
/oʊˈpʌn.ʃi.ə/
o · pun · ti · a
Plural:opuntias
opuntia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
opuntia Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large genus of cacti in the family Cactaceae, commonly known as prickly pears, characterized by distinctive flat, jointed, pad-like stems, showy flowers, and edible oval fruit, native to the arid regions of the Americas.
Example
"The landscaper decided to plant several varieties of opuntia in the xeriscape garden to minimize water usage while adding striking geometric shapes."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for opuntia• Rhymes for opuntia
Word Origin & Etymology
From modern Latin Opuntia, named by botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in 1700 after Opus (or Opuntis), an ancient Greek city. He used the name because Pliny the Elder wrote of a plant in Opus that could be propagated from its leaves, though opuntia cacti are entirely native to the Americas.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Opuntia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/opuntia