mother-of-pearl shell
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pearl shell — Pearl Pearl, n. [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.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
pearl-shell — pearlˈ shell noun 1. Mother of pearl 2. A pearly or pearl bearing shell • • • Main Entry: ↑pearl … Useful english dictionary
mother-of-pearl — [muth′ərəv pʉrl′] n. [transl. of ML mater perlarum: orig. applied to the marine animal, later to the shell] the hard, pearly internal layer of certain marine shells, as of the pearl oyster or abalone, which is used in the arts, in making pearl… … English World dictionary
mother-of-pearl — noun the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell • Syn: ↑nacre • Derivationally related forms: ↑nacreous (for: ↑nacre) • Hypernyms: ↑shell * * * ˌmother of ˈpearl … Useful english dictionary
mother-of-pearl — /mʌðər əv ˈpɜl / (say mudhuhr uhv perl) noun 1. a hard, iridescent substance which forms the inner layer of certain shells, as that of the pearl oyster; nacre. –adjective 2. iridescent, as such a shell is …
mother-of-pearl — noun Date: circa 1510 the hard pearly iridescent substance forming the inner layer of a mollusk shell … New Collegiate Dictionary
mother of pearl — iridescent lining of a mollusk shell (used for decorative purposes) … English contemporary dictionary
mother-of-pearl — noun a smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some molluscs, especially oysters and abalones, used as ornamentation … English new terms dictionary
Pearl — Pearl, n. [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.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Pearl barley — Pearl Pearl, n. [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.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
