Printer Friendly
The Free Dictionary
1,081,242,293 visitors served.
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

pearl

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
pearl 1  (pûrl)
n.
1. A smooth, lustrous, variously colored deposit, chiefly calcium carbonate, formed around a grain of sand or other foreign matter in the shells of certain mollusks and valued as a gem.
2. Mother-of-pearl; nacre.
3. One that is highly regarded for its beauty or value.
4. Printing A type size measuring approximately five points.
5. A yellowish white.
v. pearled, pearl·ing, pearls
v.tr.
1. To decorate or cover with or as if with pearls.
2. To make into the shape or color of pearls.
v.intr.
1. To dive or fish for pearls or pearl-bearing mollusks.
2. To form beads resembling pearls.

[Middle English perle, from Old French, from Latin *pernula, diminutive of perna, ham, seashell (from the shape of the shell).]
click for a larger image
pearl1
freshwater (left ) and cultured pearls (right )

pearl
Noun
1. a hard smooth greyish-white rounded object found inside the shell of a clam or oyster and much valued as a gem
3. a person or thing that is like a pearl in beauty or value
Adjective
of, made of, or set with pearl or mother-of-pearl
Verb
1. to set with or as if with pearls
2. to shape into or assume a pearl-like form or colour
3. to dive for pearls [Latin perna sea mussel]

pearl  (pûrl)
A smooth, slightly iridescent, white or grayish rounded growth inside the shells of some mollusks. Pearls form as a reaction to the presence of a foreign particle, and consist of thin layers of mother-of-pearl that are deposited around the particle. The pearls of oysters are often valued as gems.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.pearlpearl - a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
jewel, precious stone, gem - a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
seed pearl - a small imperfect pearl
2.pearlpearl - a shade of white the color of bleached bones
whiteness, white - the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
3.pearl - a shape that is spherical and small; "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead"
sphere - a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses)
dewdrop - a drop of dew
teardrop - anything shaped like a falling drop (as a pendant gem on an earring)
Verb1.pearl - gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean
gather, pull together, collect, garner - assemble or get together; "gather some stones"; "pull your thoughts together"
Translations

pearl [pəːl] nperla
pearl [pəːl] nperle f
pearl [pəːl] nPerle f
pearl [pəːl] nperla

pearl
n pearl [pəːl]
a valuable, hard, round object formed by oysters and several other shellfish The necklace consists of three strings of pearls; (also adjective ) a pearl necklace. pêrel لُؤْلُؤَه бисер perla; perlový perle; perle- die Perle; Perlen-... μαργαριτάρι perla pärl مروارید helmi (de) perle (s) פְּנִינָה मोती biser,sedef gyöngy mutiara perla perla; di perle 真珠 진주(의) perlas pērle mutiara parel perle perła pérola perlă; de perle жемчуг perla; perlový biser; biseren biser pärla ไข่มุก inci 珍珠 перлина موتي، لؤلو ngọc trai
adj ˈpearly
like pearls pearly teeth. pêrelagtig لُؤْلُؤي бисерен perlový; perleťový perleagtig perlenartig μαργαριταρένιος como perlas, perlado, nacarado pärlendav مروارید مانند helmiäis-, helmi- perlé כְּפְנִינָה मोतिया poput bisera gyöngyszerű seperti mutiara eins og perla perlaceo, perlato come perle 真珠のような 진주같은 kaip perlai pērļu-; pērļains spt mutiara parelwit perle(mors)-, perleaktig perłowy como pérolas ca de sidef; ca mărgăritarul жемчужный perlový, perleťový bisernat biserni pärlliknande ที่คล้ายไข่มุก inci gibi 珍珠似的 перлинний; схожий на перли موتي جيسا giống hạt ngọc trai
nouns ˈpearl-diver, *ˈpearl-fisher
a person who dives or fishes for pearls. pêrelduiker غَوّاص ловец на бисери lovec perel perledykker der/die Perlenfischer(in) ψαράς μαργαριταριών de perlas pescador pärlipüüdja صیاد مروارید helmenpyytäjä pêcheur/-euse de perles שוֹלֵי פְּנִינִים मोती निकालने वाला गोताखोर lovac bisera,ronilac za biserom gyöngyhalász penyelam mutiara perlukafari pescatore di perle 真珠採り 진주 조개 채취 잠수부, 진주 조개 캐는 사람 perlų ieškotojas/gaudytojas pērļu zvejnieks penyelam mutiara parelduiker perledykker/-fisker poławiacz pereł pescador de pérolas pescuitor de perle ловец жемчуга lovec perál lovec na bisere ronilac za biserima pärlfiskare คนงมหาไข่มุก inci avcısı 採珠人 шукач перлів; водолаз, що добуває перли موتي نکالنے والا người mò ngọc trai 珠人


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Her Pearl -- for so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison.
On the bottom of the huge and glassy lagoon was much pearl shell, and from the deck of the schooner, across the slender ring of the atoll, the divers could be seen at work.
"Gentlemen," he cried, "let me introduce you to the famous black pearl of the Borgias.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2008 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.. Terms of Use.