pearl oyster

American

noun

any of several marine bivalve mollusks of the family Pteriidae, some of which form pearls of great value, inhabiting waters of eastern Asia and off the coasts of Panama and Baja California.

pearl oyster British

noun

any of various tropical marine bivalves of the genus Pinctada and related genera: a major source of pearls

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pearl oyster

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

pearl oyster

The milky-white pearl oyster mushrooms growing inside a stainless-steel refrigerator at UC Riverside’s Plant Transformation Research Center illustrate what else can be done with that acetate.

From Science Magazine ● Jun. 7, 2023

A one-shouldered dress included crystals, silver beads and pearl oyster mushroom embroidery on an invisible tulle base.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 15, 2022

Vacationers are offered educational boat rides through the fierce ocean currents that swirl above the pearl oyster banks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2016

Grow pearl oyster mushrooms indoors or upgrade to a variety pack.

From Washington Post

The Meleagrina margaritifera, or pearl oyster of the Indian seas, yields the most numerous and finest specimens.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023