nacreous

[ ney-kree-uhs ]

adjective

1. of or relating to nacre.
2. resembling nacre; lustrous; pearly:

   a nacreous luster;

   a nacreous sky.

nacreous

/ ˈneɪkrɪəs /

adjective

1. relating to or consisting of mother-of-pearl
2. having the lustre of mother-of-pearl

   nacreous minerals

Other Words From

• sub·nacre·ous adjective
• un·nacre·ous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nacreous¹

First recorded in 1830–40; nacre + -ous

Example Sentences

It is seldom as much as half an inch in length, and has a nacreous interior.

From Project Gutenberg

It is an essentially beautiful and satisfying contribution to modern painting, this nacreous cubism of Marie Laurencin.

From Project Gutenberg

Two kinds of shell-substance are at once distinguishable in an oyster-shell, an outer brown, and an inner pearly or nacreous.

From Project Gutenberg

The interior is nacreous, and of a greenish colour, with a white patch round the columella.

From Project Gutenberg

Shell not nacreous, without umbilicus, with prominent spire and polished surface.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• frosted
• iridescent
• milky
• off-white