Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pearl(noun)

   a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

2. bone, ivory, pearl, off-white(noun)

   a shade of white the color of bleached bones

3. drop, bead, pearl(verb)

   a shape that is spherical and small

   "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead"

4. pearl(verb)

   gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean

GCIDE(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Pearl(n.)

   (Zool.) 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 certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and at one time compared in value with the precious stones. Since development of cultured pearls, the relative value has diminished somewhat, though the best pearls are still expensive, and natural pearls even more so. Artificial pearls may be made of various materials, including material similar to that of natural pearls; these are less expensive than natural or cultured pearls. See cultured pearl, below.

Origin: [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See Pear, and cf. Purl to mantle.]

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pearl(Noun)

   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 certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones.

2. pearl(Noun)

   Something precious.

3. pearl(Noun)

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

4. pearl(Noun)

   Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

5. pearl(Noun)

   A whitish speck or film on the eye.

6. pearl(Noun)

   A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

7. pearl(Noun)

   A light-colored tern.

8. pearl(Noun)

   One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

9. pearl(Noun)

   Five-point size of type, between agate and diamond.

10. pearl(Verb)

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

11. pearl(Verb)

    To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.

12. pearl(Verb)

    To resemble pearl or pearls.

13. pearl(Verb)

    To give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.

14. pearl(Verb)

    to dig the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.

15. pearl(Noun)

    A fringe or border.

16. Pearl(ProperNoun)

    from the English noun pearl.

Origin: From perle, from perla. The surfing sense is from “pearl diving”, it being imagined the surfer is diving down for pearls.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pearl(noun)

   a fringe or border

2. Pearl

   to fringe; to border

3. Pearl(noun)

   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 certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with the precious stones

4. Pearl(noun)

   hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious

5. Pearl(noun)

   nacre, or mother-of-pearl

6. Pearl(noun)

   a fish allied to the turbot; the brill

7. Pearl(noun)

   a light-colored tern

8. Pearl(noun)

   one of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler

9. Pearl(noun)

   a whitish speck or film on the eye

10. Pearl(noun)

    a capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether

11. Pearl(noun)

    a size of type, between agate and diamond

12. Pearl(adj)

    of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl

13. Pearl(verb)

    to set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively

14. Pearl(verb)

    to cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley

15. Pearl(verb)

    to resemble pearl or pearls

16. Pearl(verb)

    to give or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling

Origin: [OE. perle, F. perle, LL. perla, perula, probably fr. (assumed) L. pirulo, dim. of L. pirum a pear. See Pear, and cf. Purl to mantle.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pearl

   A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusc. Just like the shell of a clam, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but they are extremely rare. These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those that are currently sold. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry, but the quality of their iridescence is usually very poor, and often, artificial pearls are easily distinguished from genuine pearls. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past they were also stitched onto lavish clothing. Pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, and in paint formulations.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pearl

   pėrl, n. a well-known shining gem, found in several kinds of shellfish, but most esp. in the mother-of-pearl oyster: anything round and clear: anything very precious: a jewel: a while speck or film on the eye: (print.) a size of type immediately above diamond, equal to 5 points (about 15 lines to the inch).—adj. made of, or belonging to, pearls.—v.t. to set or adorn with pearls: to make into small round grains.—v.i. to take a rounded form: to become like pearls.—adj. Pearlā′ceous, resembling pearls or mother-of-pearl: spotted with white.—ns. Pearl′-ash, a purer carbonate of potash, obtained by calcining potashes, so called from its pearly-white colour; Pearl′-bar′ley, barley after the skin has been ground off (prob. for 'pilled barley,' Fr. orge perlé); Pearl′-butt′on, a button made of mother-of-pearl; Pearl′-div′er, one who dives for pearls.—adj. Pearled, set with pearls: like pearls: having a border trimmed with narrow lace.—ns. Pearl′-edge, a thread edging, a border on some ribbons formed by projecting loops of the threads; Pearl′-eye, cataract.—adj. Pearl′-eyed, having a white speck on the eye.—ns. Pearl′-fish′er, one who fishes for pearls; Pearl′-fish′ery, the occupation of fishing for pearls, or the place where it is carried on; Pearl′-fish′ing; Pearl′-gray, a pale gray colour.—adj. of a pale gray colour, like the pearl.—ns. Pearl′iness, state of being pearly; Pearl′-nau′tilus, the pearly nautilus; Pearl′-oys′ter, the oyster which produces pearls; Pearl′-pow′der, a cosmetic for improving the appearance of the skin; Pearl′-white, a material made from fish-scales, used in making artificial pearls: a kind of cosmetic.—adj. Pearl′y, like a pearl, nacreous: yielding pearls: dotted with pearls: clear, transparent: having a pure sweet tone. [Fr. perle, acc. to Diez, prob. either a corr. of L. pirula, a dim. of pirum, a pear, or of L. pilula, dim. of pila, a ball.]

The Foolish Dictionary, by Gideon Wurdz(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. PEARL

   A small round product manufactured by an oyster, bought by a lobster and worn by a butterfly.

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. pearl

   The pearl symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the pearl symbol and its characteristic.

2. pearl

   Song lyrics by pearl -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by pearl on the Lyrics.com website.

Anagrams for PEARL »

1. APLer, paler, parle

2. paler

3. APLer

4. parle

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of PEARL in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of PEARL in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. Charles de LEUSSE:

   Oysters speaking doesn''t give a pearl.

2. Samuel Butler:

   For truth is precious and divine Too rich a pearl for carnal swine.

3. Charles de LEUSSE:

   Oysters speaking doesn't give a pearl. (Les huîtres qui parlent n'ont pas de perle)

4. Anthon St Maarten:

   Turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse.

5. John Kerry, Debate:

   When President Bush invaded Iraq after 911 it was like Truman invading Mexico after Pearl Harbor.

Images & Illustrations of PEARL