ōˈpənch(ē)ə, -ntēə noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, a plant, from feminine of opuntius of Opus, from Opunt-, Opus Opus, ancient city of Locris, Greece, from Greek Opount-, Opous
1. capitalized : a very large genus of cacti comprising the prickly pears, being native to America but naturalized in most warm regions, having flat or terete joints usually studded with tubercles that bear sharp spines, prickly hairs, or both, and producing mostly yellow flowers followed by pulpy edible fruits
2. -s : any cactus of the genus Opuntia