pearl en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /pɜːl/ (UK)
- [pʰɚɫ] (US)
- /pɝl/ (US)
- [pʰəːɫ] (UK)
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”). Its typographic use follows the name given by Jean Jannon to the type used in his miniature editions of Vergil, Horace, & the New Testament in the 1620s, which were the smallest printed works to his time. Its surfing use derives from the supposed resemblance to pearl diving.
Meanings
- (countable, literally, uncountable) 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. ▸ Nacre; mother-of-pearl.
- (broadly, countable, literally, uncountable) 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. ▸ A white color inspired by the shade of pearls.
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(countable, figuratively, uncountable) Something precious.
I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene viii]:Hugh helped himself to bacon. "My dear fellow, she can think what she likes so long as she continues to grill bacon like this. Your wife is a treasure, James—a pearl amongst women; and you can tell her so with my love."
1920, Herman Cyril McNeile, chapter 1, in Bulldog Drummond:
- (countable, uncountable) A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for, e.g., medicinal application.
-
(countable, uncountable) A whitish speck or film on the eye.
Boast not of your eyes; it is feared you have Balaam's disease, a pearl in your eye, Mammon's prestriction.
1641, John Milton, Animadversions upon The Remonstrants Defence Against Smectymnuus, Section III:
- (countable, uncountable) A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.
- (countable, uncountable) A light-colored tern.
- (countable, uncountable) One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.
- (countable, uncountable) A fringe or border.
-
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) A valuable little nugget of information; especially, an aphorism or tip that is operationally useful for decision-making.
clinical pearls
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(countable, euphemistic, figuratively, slang, uncountable, vulgar) The clitoris.
Teasing her pearl she shakes in my arms, rolling her eyes and throwing the pussy at me.
2012, Danie Baly, Born with a Curse: Secret Fantasies:My mouth and tongue finally find her pearl. Her clitoris.
2010, Richard Knight, Simple Fantasies Can Come True, page 10:
-
(abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable) Ellipsis of pearl tapioca.
alt of pearl tapioca
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(countable, uncountable) Argent, in blazoning by precious stones.
The Field is Ruby, on a Bend Topaz, three Martlets Diamond. The Armes of the most Noble and Puissant Lord, Edward Brabazon, Earl of Meath, and Baron of Atherdee in the Kingdom of Ireland. His Lordship's Atchievements are Quarterly of sixteen Coats. 1. Brabazon, as above. 2. Diamond, on a Chevron between three Pickaxes Pearl, as many Mullets Ruby, by the Name of Mosley. 3. Saphire, ten Bezants, 4, 3, 2, 1, by the Bisset. 4. Pearl, on a Bend Diamond, nine Annulets conjoined in three Links Topaz.
1726, John Guillim, The Banner Display'd; Or, an Abridgment of Guillim, page 504:Errol. Pearl three Escutcheons Ruby. / Elgin. Topaz a Saltier and Chief Ruby, on a Canton Pearl a Lyon Rampant Saphyr, which last is their paternal Coat; and the Field Topaz, and Saltier, and Chief Ruby, was the Arms of King Robert the Bruce, they altering the Field from Pearl (as he bore it) to Topaz.
1720, Francis Nichols, Rudiments of Honour, page 296:(1) Pearl, a Cross, Ruby, with the Effigies of our Saviour thereon, Topaz, born in Memory of one of the Family's fighting against the Turks.
1754, John Lodge, The Peerage of Ireland; Or, a Genealogical History of the ..., page 71:
- (dated, uncountable) The size of type between diamond and agate, standardized as 5-point.
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(countable, obsolete, uncountable) A jewel or gem.
There is gold, and multitude of pearles: but a precious vessel the lips of knowledge.
1610, The Second Tome of the Holie Bible, […] (Douay–Rheims Bible), Doway: Laurence Kellam, […], →OCLC, Prouerbes 20:15:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| pearls | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Deriveds
pearlesque · Pearl City · Pearl Harbor · mother of pearl · pearlie · pearlstone · banded pearl · pearl powder · pearl moss · pearl milk tea · pearl tapioca · pearlness · pearl spar · pearl eye · pearlside · Pearl of Africa · pearl wedding · pearl sugar · pearl haricot bean · perliculture · penile pearl · pearlash · pearl aura · pearl couscous · keratin pearl · pearl grey · pearllike · pearliculture · pearl white · impearl · pearlwort · bath pearl · pearl mullet · pearl body · pearlaceous · pearl-clutcher · polish the pearl · pearl-coated · pearlin · bepearl · pearlite · pearl grass · pearl tea · tapioca pearl · epithelial pearl · coconut pearl · pearlwise · pearl-clutching · pearl-bordered fritillary · pearl sinter · mother-of-pearl cloud · cave pearl · pearlscale · pearlless · pearl cooler · pearly · sulphur pearl · pearlfish · pearl of great price · pearl-clutchy · pearlware · pearlized · Pearl River · pearlish · pearl edge · empearl · Pearl Beach · pearl danio · pearl bush · pearl of the Antilles · pearlescent · pearl shell · Blue Pearl of Morocco · baroque pearl · pearldom · Pearl · pearl-ash · freshwater pearl mussel · sweet mother of pearl · pearl-necklace · pearlcore · pearl-clutchingly · pearl rice
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (254)
lez инжи (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · alt јинји (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · eu altiste (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pl perła (figuratively: something precious) · udm марњан (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ar لُؤْلُؤَة (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · vo pärlat (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · be жо́мчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ja 真珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · is perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · an perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · yi פּערל (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fi helmi (capsule) · ti ሉል (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · th มุกดา (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · io perlo (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · km មុក្តា (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fa-ira مُرْوارید (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · it perla (figuratively: something precious) · ia perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bal گوھر (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ru перл (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ast perlla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mnc ᠨᡳᠴᡠᡥᡝ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nah yepyollotli (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · km មុត្តា (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · it occhio di mosca (5-point type) · hi मुक्ता (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nl parel (5-point type) · fi helmi (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr sédanoise (5-point type) · uz gavhar (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · km គជ់ខ្យង (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lo ໄຂ່ມຸກ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cdo 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ka მარგალიტი (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nah epyollotli (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · be пэ́рла (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lmo pèrla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nb perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · scn perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sk perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mnc ᡨᠠᠨᠠ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ug дур (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · eo perlo (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · be жамчу́жына (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bpl poorr (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · th ไข่มุก (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · xal сувсн (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kaw maṇi (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · dng җынҗў (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sw lulu (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bn মুক্তা (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr perlure (one of the tubercles on a deer's antler) · et pärl (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · es perla (5-point type) · ota اینجو (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bth mutiyaraa (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ota مروارید (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fur perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · os дзындз (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pms perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nn perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · vi ngọc trai (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · da perle (figuratively: something precious) · srn parelkrara (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · az inci (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tl perlas (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · abq налькъвыт-нальма́с (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fi helmi (figuratively: something precious) · nan-hbl 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · uk пе́рла (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sl biser (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · km គជ់ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · vo magäb (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ar جَوْهَر (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · el μαργαριτάρ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cop ⲙⲁⲣⲅⲁⲣⲓⲧⲏⲥ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · atv чиндьи (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · rif tadmant (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mn ᠰᠤᠪᠤᠳ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · atv чинче (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cs perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · af pêrel (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · la bāca (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · be жэ́мчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ta முத்து (figuratively: something precious) · got 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌺𐍂𐌴𐌹𐍄𐌿𐍃 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · haw momi (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · uz marvarid (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ba ынйы (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lb Pärel (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lzz moni (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · vro pärli (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · rm perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ro perlă (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr joyau (figuratively: something precious) · ht pèl (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bbl მარგალიტ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fo perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · co perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · uz inju (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fi kapseli (capsule) · orv женчугъ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · dsb parla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · az mirvari (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ar لُؤْلُؤ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · afb لولو (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ha lu'ulu'u (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · yue 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · gur kug-sõnnɛ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mhr ракывод шырча (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · gl perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · wym pela (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fy pearel (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr parisienne (5-point type) · tyv чинжи (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cu бисьръ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sc perèlla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · it tesoro (figuratively: something precious) · tg чавхар (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ro mărgăritar (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fa-ira گُوْهَر (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bg би́сер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bo མུ་ཏིག (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sa मुक्ता (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lez гевгьер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ky бермет (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · av маргъал (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cy perl (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lv pērle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · th มุก (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · hsb parla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · krc инджи (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · de Perl (5-point type) · tg марворид (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ru жемчу́жина (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ml മുത്ത് (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sah чөмчүүк (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pt pérola (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kk інжу (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sm penina (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tk dür (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sq rruazë (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · uz dur (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · izh helmi (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nl parisienne (5-point type) · ady налмэс-налкъут (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · my ပုလဲ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cy mererid (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · id mutiara (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · gsw Pärla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ckb مْرواری (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · el μαργαριτάρι (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · os абырлаш (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tyv сууд (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · hak 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sh бѝсер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cv мерчен (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mn сувд (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fi helmi (5-point type) · tab гевгьер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · la margarita (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tg гавҳар (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sv pärla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · eu perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ang meregrot (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ur مَروارِید (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · es parisienne (5-point type) · ur موتی (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · orv бисьръ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bua субад (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ps مرغلره (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · te ముత్యం (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · evn жемчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mt ġawhra (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pl perła (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fr perle (figuratively: something precious) · liv pǟrlõz (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ady налъкъут (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pi muttā (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kpv вӧсь (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · myv жемчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · grc μαργαρίτης (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · se bearal (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · de Perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · alt инји (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cmn 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ru же́мчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kw perl (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ms mutiara (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lt perlas (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · he פְּנִינָה (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · es perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ca perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ur گَوہَر (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ug мәрвайит (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ast perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cv ӗнчӗ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · st pêrêla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · be зе́мчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tt энҗе (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kmr morî (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · rsk перла (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · vi trân châu (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · hi मोती (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · abq налкъвыт-налма́с (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mwl perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sc pèrela (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ta முத்து (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ota در (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · pdt Parl (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · si මුතු (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · oc pèrla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · co perula (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · am ሉል (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ug دۇر (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · he מַרְגָּלִית (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · chr ᏓᎬᎾ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · sh bìser (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kum инжи (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · da perle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tk hünji (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mhr жемчуг (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bbl მარგლიტ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mk бисер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · hy մարգարիտ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · hu gyöngy (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ru перл (figuratively: something precious) · wa pièle (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cmn 八 (5-point type) · wuu 珍珠 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ne मोती (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ko 진주 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bg маргари́т (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · it perla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · kk мерүерт (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · gd neamhnaid (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · nl parel (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · fi kaihi (whitish speck on the eye) · ru би́сер (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ga péarla (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · cmn 璣 /玑 (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mrw tipay (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · lzz zenişi (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ru жемчу́жина (figuratively: something precious) · it parigina (5-point type) · pa ਮੋਤੀ (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · bg пе́рла (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · tr inci (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · ug مەرۋايىت (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · uk перли́на (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks) · mi peara (rounded shelly concretion produced by certain mollusks)
wikipedia: + (typography) · wikipedia: pearl · wikipedia: New Testament · wikipedia: Vergil · wikidata: Q43436 · wikipedia: Jean Jannon · wikipedia: Horace · wikidata: Q43436