1.NounA scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).
2.NounA vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects.
3.NounThe vivid red colour of this dye.
"cochineal: "
4.AdjectivePossessing a vivid red colour, as or as if produced from dyeing with cochineal dye (noun sense 2).