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opuntia

Syllabification: (o·pun·tia)
Pronunciation: /ōˈpənSH(ē)ə/
Definition of opuntia

noun

  • a cactus of a genus that comprises the prickly pears.
    • Genus Opuntia, family Cactaceae

Origin:

early 17th century: from Latin, a name given to a plant growing around Opus (stem Opunt-), a city in Locris in ancient Greece. The term was later used as a genus name

opuntia in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of opuntia in the British & World English dictionary