pearly

[pur-lee]

adjective

pearlier, pearliest 

1. like a pearl, especially in being white or lustrous; nacreous.

   her pearly teeth.

2. adorned with or abounding in pearls or mother-of-pearl.

pearly

/ ˈpɜːlɪ /

adjective

1. resembling a pearl, esp in lustre

2. of the colour pearl; pale bluish-grey

3. decorated with pearls or mother-of-pearl

noun

1. a London costermonger who wears on ceremonial occasions a traditional dress of dark clothes covered with pearl buttons

2. (plural) the clothes or the buttons themselves

Other Word Forms

• pearliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pearly¹

First recorded in 1400–50, pearly is from the late Middle English word peerly. See pearl, -y ¹

Example Sentences

After ICE agents hear from protesters that there are “many Latinos in heaven,” they make the pearly gates their next stop.

From Los Angeles Times

And to the overly literal, I don’t mean tithing or some religious-themed amusement park or you popping out that shiny quarter to cover your entry fee into the pearly gates.

From Salon

Wood, whose pearly whites and “White Lotus” character were mocked, said in a since-expired Instagram story that she found the bit “mean and unfunny.”

From Los Angeles Times

While many species can regenerate their teeth, human beings only get one chance at growing a healthy set of adult pearly whites.

From BBC

“For example, when you look at oyster shells, they have an iridescence of pearly green and blue, and that’s definitely from minerals like copper,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• frosted 
• iridescent 
• milky 
• off-white