margaritaceous

American  

[mahr-ger-i-tey-shuhs] / ˌmɑr gər ɪˈteɪ ʃəs /

adjective

1. resembling mother-of-pearl; pearly.

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Etymology

Origin of margaritaceous

From the New Latin word margarītāceus, dating back to 1820–30. See margarite, -aceous

Explanation

Something margaritaceous has an iridescent luster resembling that of a pearl or mother-of-pearl. A conch shell has a margaritaceous interior lining, as do oyster and abalone shells. Margarita is the Latin word for "pearl," and the suffix -aceous means "having the nature of" or "resembling." So something margaritaceous resembles a pearl. The word is most often used to describe things in nature. An entomologist might use it to describe the shimmering wings of a dragonfly or the iridescent exoskeleton of a beetle. A botanist might use it to describe the satiny, silvery-white underside of certain petals or leaves. A more commonly used synonym for margaritaceous is nacreous.