I. ˈnōpəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, from Nahuatl nopalli
: a cactus of the genus Nopalea (as the cochineal fig) ; broadly : prickly pear
II. ˈnōpəl; nōˈpäl, -ˈpal noun
( plural no·pal·es nōˈpälās, -ˈpal-)
: a fleshy young tender stem segment of the prickly pear cactus (genus Opuntia and especially O. ficus-indica ) or the nopal cactus (genus Nopalea ) that is used as food