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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

pearly en · ADJ

Pronunciation

Etymology

From pearl + -y.

Meanings

  1. Of a pale greyish white colour, tinted with blue.
  2. Resembling or characteristic of a pearl; nacreous.
    • a pearly lustre
  3. Containing or yielding pearls.
  4. Having a pure sweet tone.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pearlier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
pearliest Degree=Sup lexicographic

Deriveds

pearliness · pearly disease · pearly gates · pearly coronal papules · Pearly Gates · pearly-eyed thrasher · pearly prince · pearly everlasting · pearly antshrike · pearly queen · arc-form pearly mussel · pearly princess · pearly king · pearly whites · pearly family · pearly nautilus · pearly penile papules

Relateds

chambered nautilus

Synonyms

pearllike · pearlesque · pearlish

pearly en · NOUN

Pronunciation

Etymology

From pearl + -y.

Meanings

  1. (dated, uncommon, uncountable) A pale greyish white colour, tinted with blue.
    • In nature we as often find the light cool as warm; also in the pictures of many of the Flemish and Dutch schools, where, as Sir Joshua himself mentions, " the silver gray or pearly is predominant, and are valued by the connoisseurs in proportion as they possess this excellence of a silver tint." 1830, John Burnet, A practical treatise on painting, page 3:
    • Pearly is that silky and often coloured lustre which renders of such value 1884, The popular educator, page 49:
    • When (the scales are) more developed and thickened, the color (pearly) is deepened, shading 1899, St. Louis medical and surgical journal, page 126:
  2. (UK, countable, especially, plural, slang) A tooth.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
pearlies Number=Plur lexicographic

Translations (3)

bg бисерен (colour) · cmn 珍珠色 (colour) · ja 真珠色 (colour)