Definitions for pearl
pɜrlpearl

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pearlnoun

   a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

2. bone, ivory, pearl, off-whitenoun

   a shade of white the color of bleached bones

3. drop, bead, pearlverb

   a shape that is spherical and small

   "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead"

4. pearlverb

   gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean

GCIDERate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Pearlnoun

   (Zool.) 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. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and at one time compared in value with the precious stones. Since development of cultured pearls, the relative value has diminished somewhat, though the best pearls are still expensive, and natural pearls even more so. Artificial pearls may be made of various materials, including material similar to that of natural pearls; these are less expensive than natural or cultured pearls. See cultured pearl, below.

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pearlnoun

   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. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.

2. pearlnoun

   Something precious.

3. pearlnoun

   A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for e.g. medicinal application.

4. pearlnoun

   Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

5. pearlnoun

   A whitish speck or film on the eye.

6. pearlnoun

   A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

7. pearlnoun

   A light-colored tern.

8. pearlnoun

   One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

9. pearlnoun

   Five-point size of type, between agate and diamond.

10. pearlverb

    To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.

11. pearlverb

    To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.

12. pearlverb

    To resemble pearl or pearls.

13. pearlverb

    To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.

14. pearlverb

    to dig the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.

15. pearlnoun

    A fringe or border.

16. Pearlnoun

    from the English noun pearl.

17. Etymology: From perle, from perla. The surfing sense is from “pearl diving”, it being imagined the surfer is diving down for pearls.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PEARLnoun

   Pearls, though esteemed of the number of gems by our jewellers, are but a distemper in the creature that produces them: the fish in which pearls are most frequently found is the East Indian berbes or pearl oyster: others are found to produce pearls; as the common oyster, the muscle, and various other kinds; but the Indian pearls are superior to all: some pearls have been known of the size of a pigeon’s egg; as they increase in size, they are less frequent and more valued: the true shape of the pearl is a perfect round; but some of a considerable size are of the shape of a pear, and serve for ear-rings: their colour ought to be a pure, clear and brilliant white, and they bring their natural polish with them, to which art can never attain: it is reported, that pearls naturally of a yellowish cast, never alter, that this tinge never grows deeper, and that the lustre of the pearl never fades, which is therefore justly preferred by the Orientals to such as are purely white: from the name unio given to the pearl, some have been led to believe, that there was only one found in each shell; this is indeed usually the case in oysters and muscles; but in the oriental pearl shell six or eight are frequent, and sometimes twenty or more. Hill.

   Etymology: perle, Fr. perla, Spanish; supposed by Salmasius to come from spherula, Latin.

   A pearl-julep was made of a distilled milk. Richard Wiseman.

   Flow’rs purfled, blue and white,
   Like saphire, pearl, in rich embroidery
   Buckled below fair knighthood’s bending knee. William Shakespeare.

   Cataracts pearl-coloured, and those of the colour of burnished iron, are esteemed proper to endure the needle. Samuel Sharp.

2. Pearlnoun

   A white speck or film growing on the eye. Robert Ainsworth

   Etymology: albugo , Lat.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pearl

   A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate (mainly aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite) in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes, known as baroque pearls, can occur. The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but are extremely rare. These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those currently sold. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also used to adorn clothing. They have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines and paint formulations. Whether wild or cultured, gem-quality pearls are almost always nacreous and iridescent, like the interior of the shell that produces them. However, almost all species of shelled mollusks are capable of producing pearls (technically "calcareous concretions") of lesser shine or less spherical shape. Although these may also be legitimately referred to as "pearls" by gemological labs and also under U.S. Federal Trade Commission rules, and are formed in the same way, most of them have no value except as curiosities.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pearl

   A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced within the soft tissue of a living, shelled mollusk like an oyster or clam. It is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers as a protective mechanism against irritants. Pearls are prized as gemstones and are often used in jewelry. They are the only gemstones that are created by living organisms.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pearlnoun

   a fringe or border

2. Pearl

   to fringe; to border

3. Pearlnoun

   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. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones

4. Pearlnoun

   hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious

5. Pearlnoun

   nacre, or mother-of-pearl

6. Pearlnoun

   a fish allied to the turbot; the brill

7. Pearlnoun

   a light-colored tern

8. Pearlnoun

   one of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler

9. Pearlnoun

   a whitish speck or film on the eye

10. Pearlnoun

    a capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether

11. Pearlnoun

    a size of type, between agate and diamond

12. Pearladjective

    of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl

13. Pearlverb

    to set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively

14. Pearlverb

    to cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley

15. Pearlverb

    to resemble pearl or pearls

16. Pearlverb

    to give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling

17. Etymology: [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See Pear, and cf. Purl to mantle.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pearl

   A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc. Just like the shell of a clam, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but they are extremely rare. These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those that are currently sold. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry, but the quality of their iridescence is usually very poor, and often, artificial pearls are easily distinguished from genuine pearls. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past they were also stitched onto lavish clothing. Pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, and in paint formulations.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Pearl

   pėrl, n. a well-known shining gem, found in several kinds of shellfish, but most esp. in the mother-of-pearl oyster: anything round and clear: anything very precious: a jewel: a while speck or film on the eye: (print.) a size of type immediately above diamond, equal to 5 points (about 15 lines to the inch).—adj. made of, or belonging to, pearls.—v.t. to set or adorn with pearls: to make into small round grains.—v.i. to take a rounded form: to become like pearls.—adj. Pearlā′ceous, resembling pearls or mother-of-pearl: spotted with white.—ns. Pearl′-ash, a purer carbonate of potash, obtained by calcining potashes, so called from its pearly-white colour; Pearl′-bar′ley, barley after the skin has been ground off (prob. for 'pilled barley,' Fr. orge perlé); Pearl′-butt′on, a button made of mother-of-pearl; Pearl′-div′er, one who dives for pearls.—adj. Pearled, set with pearls: like pearls: having a border trimmed with narrow lace.—ns. Pearl′-edge, a thread edging, a border on some ribbons formed by projecting loops of the threads; Pearl′-eye, cataract.—adj. Pearl′-eyed, having a white speck on the eye.—ns. Pearl′-fish′er, one who fishes for pearls; Pearl′-fish′ery, the occupation of fishing for pearls, or the place where it is carried on; Pearl′-fish′ing; Pearl′-gray, a pale gray colour.—adj. of a pale gray colour, like the pearl.—ns. Pearl′iness, state of being pearly; Pearl′-nau′tilus, the pearly nautilus; Pearl′-oys′ter, the oyster which produces pearls; Pearl′-pow′der, a cosmetic for improving the appearance of the skin; Pearl′-white, a material made from fish-scales, used in making artificial pearls: a kind of cosmetic.—adj. Pearl′y, like a pearl, nacreous: yielding pearls: dotted with pearls: clear, transparent: having a pure sweet tone. [Fr. perle, acc. to Diez, prob. either a corr. of L. pirula, a dim. of pirum, a pear, or of L. pilula, dim. of pila, a ball.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon WurdzRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PEARL

   A small round product manufactured by an oyster, bought by a lobster and worn by a butterfly.

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pearl

   A beautiful concretion found in the interior of the shells of many species of mollusca, resulting from the deposit of nacreous substance round some nucleus, mostly of foreign origin. The Meleagrina margaritifera, or pearl oyster of the Indian seas, yields the most numerous and finest specimens.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pearl

   The pearl symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the pearl symbol and its characteristic.

2. pearl

   Song lyrics by pearl -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pearl on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. PEARL

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pearl is ranked #4687 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Pearl surname appeared 7,570 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 would have the surname Pearl.
   
   83.7% or 6,343 total occurrences were White.
   9.9% or 751 total occurrences were Black.
   2.6% or 203 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   2% or 156 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.1% or 84 total occurrences were Asian.
   0.4% or 33 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

1. • Gather
   • Jewel

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for pearl »

1. parle

2. APLer

3. paler

4. perla

5. lepra

6. relap

7. parel

How to pronounce pearl?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say pearl in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pearl in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pearl in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of pearl in a Sentence

1. Vice President Harris:

   They're trying to turn [Jan. 6] into Pearl Harbor. They're trying to turn it into 9/11 … They do this to place a target on the backs of their political enemies … That's a coordinated effort. And they want this thing to be permanent. Every year, we're going to have to do that. I say, no. ‘F’ you.

2. Matthew Gray:

   Finding a pearl in an edible oyster is very rare, anecdotally, it's estimated to be something like 1/10,000, but I think this is being generous.

3. German Chancellor Olaf Schultz:

   I will always remember the work we did to strengthen our alliance, the moving experience of traveling to Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor together, and the grace he and his wife Akie Abe showed to me and Michelle.

4. Brittany Strachan:

   The atmosphere here is miles different from anywhere else, i worked at Pearl Street, one of the biggest Whole Foods in the country, a crazy machine with so many moving parts. Then I came here and everyone was having fun and joking around.

5. Huang Wei:

   The virus doesn't change long-term fundamentals of China's market, just as the Pearl Harbor incident didn't change U.S. economic strength.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=pearl
2. ^ GCIDE
   https://gcide.gnu.org.ua/?q=pearl
3. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Pearl
4. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=pearl
5. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl
6. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
7. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pearl
8. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=pearl
9. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=pearl
10. ^ The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1989/pg1989-images.html#:~:text=pearl
11. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=pearl
12. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
    https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html
13. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=pearl