pearl

UK /pɜːl/ US /pɝl/
noun 5verb 5name 5

Definitions

noun

1

A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in

2

A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in

3

Something precious.

I see thee compassed with thy kingdom's pearl.

Hugh helped himself to bacon. "My dear fellow, she can think what she likes so long as she continues to grill bacon like this. Your wife is a treasure, James—a pearl amongst women; and you can tell her so with my love."

4

A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for, e.g., medicinal application.

5

A whitish speck or film on the eye.

Boast not of your eyes; it is feared you have Balaam's disease, a pearl in your eye, Mammon's prestriction.

verb

1

To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.

Syed Omar began to walk to the airport. Sweat pearled his tough brown skin, his fat bounced in rhythm.

2

To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.

to pearl barley

3

To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.

A Teaching Company Scheme developing new technology for pearling light bulbs was established in October […]

4

To resemble pearl or pearls.

5

To bead; to form droplets.

I'm left here with the memory of all their shining words, like drops of water pearling on the window-pane

Blood pearled on the blade, its aroma filling the air.

name

1

A unisex given name from English.

Her Pearl!—For so had Hester called her; not as a name expressive of her aspect, which had nothing of the calm, white, unimpassioned lustre that would be indicated by the comparison. But she named the infant "Pearl," as being of great price,—purchased with all she had,—her mother's only treasure!

"What was your name?" "Pearl." Ruby and Pearl, mother and daughter. "It's an ugly name, isn't it?" "No, it isn't". And I meant it, it wasn't. "Old-fashioned, perhaps, but nice." She stared at me. "Do you know what pearls are? They're ugliness: dirt or sand gets in an oyster and the oyster coats it over so that it won't be irritating."

2

A unisex given name from English.

3

A surname from English.

4

A placename:

The only news of interest brought by the Calcutta and China mail is that the river Pearl, in Southern China, had been explored by a party of the British to the distance of 195 miles.

During these ten years the northern province of Chihli, with a population of over 32,000,000, has been inundated thrice; the Huai River running through three central provinces, with people more in number than half those of the United States, overflowed twice; the two provinces of Hunan and Kiangsi, south of the Yangtsze River, likewise densely populated, have also been inundated twice, and Shantung Province, with its teeming millions, has had its territory flooded from the outbreak of the Yellow River; while the southern rivers, the Pearl in Kwangtung Province, the Min in Fukien Province, and other streams have, during the period, more than once contributed their toll of destruction.

5

A placename:

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