a smooth, rounded bead formed within the shells of certain mollusks and composed of the mineral aragonite or calcite in a matrix, deposited in concentric layers as a protective coating around an irritating foreign object: valued as a gem when lustrous and finely colored.
something resembling a bead formed in the shells of certain mollusks, such as various synthetic substances for use in costume jewelry.
The pearls on this rosary are made of glass and protected by silver-plated double filigree caps.
something similar in form, luster, etc., to a bead formed in the shells of certain mollusks, such as a dewdrop or a capsule of medicine.
She wiped the pearls of sweat from her forehead.
something precious or choice; the finest example of anything.
An older couple offered us some pearls of wisdom about keeping a marriage healthy.
The pearl of the museum's collection is one of Van Gogh's paintings, but there are many other things worth seeing.
a very pale gray approaching white but commonly with a bluish tinge.
We wanted to paint the walls eggshell at first, but we ultimately decided on a cooler color and went with pearl.
mother-of-pearl (usually used in combination).
His collection includes a beautiful antique pearl-handled revolver.
Printing. a 5-point type.
Also called epithelial pearl. Pathology. a rounded mass of keratin occurring in certain carcinomas of the skin.
to adorn or stud with or as if with pearls.
The crown, newly pearled and gilded, shone in the candlelight.
to make like pearls, as in form or color.
Opalescent discs of abalone shell caught the light and pearled it back in many colors.
to dive, fish, or search for mollusks that produce beads within their shells.
While pearling near the coast, they discovered the remains of a centuries-old shipwreck.
to assume a pearllike form or appearance.
A tear pearled on her lashes.
resembling the gemstone produced by certain mollusks in form or color.
The dress is a lovely pearl gray.
of or relating to pearls.
If you really want to splurge, book a trip to go pearl diving in French Polynesia.
An eco-friendly pearl farming industry could decrease heavy metals in the water and bring economic benefits to this region.
set with a pearl or pearls, or covered or inlaid with pearls or mother-of-pearl.
She wore a navy blue suit and a pearl necklace.
having or reduced to small, rounded grains.
Pearl millet is a common crop of the region.
cast pearls before swine, to offer or give something of great value to those incapable of appreciating it.
She read them Shakespeare but it was casting pearls before swine.
pearls in your oysters, good luck to you (often used when parting or in thanks).
Well, I've got to go now—pearls in your oysters.
a town in central Mississippi.
a female given name.
a hard smooth lustrous typically rounded structure occurring on the inner surface of the shell of a clam or oyster: consists of calcium carbonate secreted in layers around an invading particle such as a sand grain; much valued as a gem
any artificial gem resembling this
See mother-of-pearl
a person or thing that is like a pearl, esp in beauty or value
a pale greyish-white colour, often with a bluish tinge
a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 5 point
of, made of, or set with pearl or mother-of-pearl
having the shape or colour of a pearl
(tr) to set with or as if with pearls
to shape into or assume a pearl-like form or colour
(intr) to dive or search for pearls
What does pearl mean? A pearl is a smooth, rounded bead formed inside the shells of certain mollusks, such as clams and oysters. Pearls are known for being used in jewelry, such as pearl necklaces and pearl earrings. Pearls vary in size and color. They are most commonly an iridescent, milky white, but they can be several other colors, including gray and even black. Although pearls are not stones, the pearl is one of the birthstones for the month of June, along with moonstone and alexandrite. It is associated with the zodiac signs Gemini and Cancer. The word pearl is sometimes used figuratively to refer to something precious or to the finest example of something, such as in the phrase pearls of wisdom. Pearl can also be a girl’s name. Example: My grandmother left me her pearl necklace, and I always wear it on special occasions.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English perle, from Middle French, from Italian or assumed Vulgar Latin perla (unrecorded), from Latin pernula (unrecorded), from pern(a) “sea mussel,” also “ham, thigh” (compare Old English fiersn, Greek ptérnē, Sanskrit pā́rṣṇi “heel”) + -ula, feminine of -ulus -ule ( def. )
A pearl is a white, round gem formed inside an oyster or clam. Pearl can also refer to something that resembles the gem in color or shape, like a pearl of sweat that forms on your forehead when you're hot. Why is a pearl called a pearl? It isn't clear where the Medieval Latin word perla comes from. Some believe it refers to the shape of the shell in which pearls are found: either pear, like the shapely fruit, or perna, literally "ham," because the shell is shaped like a pig's leg.
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The name "Pearl Sweet" is a reference to Uganda's nickname as the "pearl of Africa" and the oil's low sulphur content.
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
But it was the grit that grew a pearl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026
In one, it sat on a tiny plate beside a chilled vermouth cocktail garnished with a pearl onion on a spear.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
He promised to send gifts, silk scarves and pearl necklaces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
“Pardon me,” she said flatly to the officer before fixing her curls again and sliding her pearl hatpin into place.
From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys
As David’s continues developing its AI tools, it’s adding new “embedded tasks” inside Pearl, such as a budgeting capability based on where the wedding will be held.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
There are a few components to the strategy: Pearl Planner, an AI-based wedding planning tool for brides, and Pearl Connect, an AI-powered platform for wedding vendors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Start with a stroll along downtown’s Pearl Street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
In comments to The Times last week, Pearl said Partow’s participation was less troubling than CAIR’s presence, which he called “despicable” and “hurtful.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026
Lexie was never entirely sure, afterward, whether she had told Mia what had happened, or if Pearl had, or if Mia had simply intuited it on her own.
From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
Seated across from me, in her pearls and charcoal pantsuit, is Neera Tanden—one of the most accomplished political agents in America, and someone to whom I have just posed a deeply offensive question.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
The 30-year-old curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario had been scrutinizing a portrait of a young Black woman bedecked in jewels and wearing a shimmering blue gown with pearls around her neck and wrists.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026
However, bigger pearls did not invariably mean faster signals.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
Now, two years later, Harry Styles walks onto that same floor in pearls and a feather boa, singing about tenderness and change and wanting.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Gomo was always so proud and dignified and wore Japanese pearls her son had bought for her when he’d become police captain.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
Related research has since documented pearled axons in human brain tissue, extending the observations beyond mice.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026
The discovery echoes others: Watanabe had noticed similar pearled axons in roundworms in 2013 but didn’t investigate further, and Burkhardt recently saw them in comb jellies.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 2, 2024
I got more crystals that I could attach to the pearled bib.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2023
Here’s how she added heft without too many more steps: First, you’ll boil some lentils in a pot of salted water, and when they’re about halfway done, you’ll add pearled couscous.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 4, 2022
Like his mother, he was pearled with damp, and he shook his woollen hat over the stove to make the drops jump and spit.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
In the late 19th century, Tamara Surani Fernando notes in “Shallow Blue Empire,” this problem of yield confronted the British, who oversaw the trade of three important pearling sites in the Indian Ocean.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Along the warm, brackish waters of the Persian Gulf, drilling rigs now overlook old pearling grounds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
Their work points to a process called "mitochondrial pearling," which had previously received little attention.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 13, 2026
Watanabe had initially seen repeated axon pearling in the nervous system of worms and grew more curious about the structures after a discussion with Swiss scientist Graham Knott, Ph.D.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 2, 2024
On the 2nd of November preceding, the pearling schooner Timothy S. had cleared from Cooktown on her lawful occasions for Joannet Harbor in the Louisiades.
From Where the Pavement Ends by John Russell
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