mother-of-pearl

American  

[muhth-er-uhv-purl] / ˈmʌð ər əvˈpɜrl /

noun

1. a hard, iridescent substance that forms the inner layer of certain mollusk shells, used for making buttons, beads, etc.; nacre.

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adjective

1. of or having the qualities of mother-of-pearl, as being iridescent or pearly.

   mother-of-pearl buttons.

mother-of-pearl British  

noun

1. Also called: nacre.  a hard iridescent substance, mostly calcium carbonate, that forms the inner layer of the shells of certain molluscs, such as the oyster. It is used to make buttons, inlay furniture, etc

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mother-of-pearl Scientific  

1. The hard, smooth, pearly layer on the inside of certain seashells, such as abalones and certain oysters. It is used to make buttons and jewelry.

2. Also called nacre

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Etymology

Origin of mother-of-pearl

1500–10; compare Italian madreperla, obsolete French mère perle

Example Sentences

The brut, aptly named “Flying by the Seat of Our Pants,” pairs beautifully with the included 1 oz. tin of custom Bricoleur x Tsar Nicoulai caviar and a mother-of-pearl spoon.

From Salon

Grande is so clearly in her Glinda era with her blonde ponytail almost matching the shade of her mother-of-pearl gown made by Loewe.

From Salon

Nacre, the iridescent mother-of-pearl inside the shells of marine mussels and other mollusks, is exceptionally tough: it can deform without breaking.

From Science Daily

BBC Weather presenter Simon King explained the clouds are some of the highest in the Earth's atmosphere and are often referred to as "mother-of-pearl".

From BBC

One of the highest clouds in our atmosphere, they are often referred to as "mother-of-pearl", and are rarely spotted in the UK because of the exceptional conditions needed.

From BBC