pearl
A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
Noun 4 meanings
A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
Something precious.
A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for, e.g., medicinal application.
A whitish speck or film on the eye.
Verb 4 meanings
To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.
To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.
“to pearl barley”
To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.
To resemble pearl or pearls.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English perle, from Old French perle of uncertain etymology. Probably via unattested Medieval Latin *pernula, from Latin perna (“haunch; a marine bivalve shaped like a leg of lamb”) but also derived from Medieval Latin perla, from Latin perula (“little bag”).
Similar and opposite words
PEARL at a glance
PEARL has 5 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (P 3 + E 1 + A 1 + R 1 + L 1) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,624 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with pearl
All rhymesOne letter away
- PEARS7
- PEART7
- PEARE7
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