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What does Pearl mean?

Definitions for Pearl
pɜrlpearl

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Pearl.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pearlnoun

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

  2. bone, ivory, pearl, off-whitenoun

    a shade of white the color of bleached bones

  3. drop, bead, pearlverb

    a shape that is spherical and small

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

  4. pearlverb

    gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean

GCIDE

  1. Pearlnoun

    (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.

Wiktionary

  1. pearlnoun

    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. pearlnoun

    Something precious.

  3. pearlnoun

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

  4. pearlnoun

    Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

  5. pearlnoun

    A whitish speck or film on the eye.

  6. pearlnoun

    A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

  7. pearlnoun

    A light-colored tern.

  8. pearlnoun

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

  9. pearlnoun

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

  10. pearlverb

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

  11. pearlverb

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

  12. pearlverb

    To resemble pearl or pearls.

  13. pearlverb

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

  14. pearlverb

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

  15. pearlnoun

    A fringe or border.

  16. Pearlnoun

    from the English noun pearl.

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

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. PEARLnoun

    Pearls, though esteemed of the number of gems by our jewellers, are but a distemper in the creature that produces them: the fish in which pearls are most frequently found is the East Indian berbes or pearl oyster: others are found to produce pearls; as the common oyster, the muscle, and various other kinds; but the Indian pearls are superior to all: some pearls have been known of the size of a pigeon’s egg; as they increase in size, they are less frequent and more valued: the true shape of the pearl is a perfect round; but some of a considerable size are of the shape of a pear, and serve for ear-rings: their colour ought to be a pure, clear and brilliant white, and they bring their natural polish with them, to which art can never attain: it is reported, that pearls naturally of a yellowish cast, never alter, that this tinge never grows deeper, and that the lustre of the pearl never fades, which is therefore justly preferred by the Orientals to such as are purely white: from the name unio given to the pearl, some have been led to believe, that there was only one found in each shell; this is indeed usually the case in oysters and muscles; but in the oriental pearl shell six or eight are frequent, and sometimes twenty or more. Hill.

    Etymology: perle, Fr. perla, Spanish; supposed by Salmasius to come from spherula, Latin.

    A pearl-julep was made of a distilled milk. Richard Wiseman.

    Flow’rs purfled, blue and white,
    Like saphire, pearl, in rich embroidery
    Buckled below fair knighthood’s bending knee. William Shakespeare.

    Cataracts pearl-coloured, and those of the colour of burnished iron, are esteemed proper to endure the needle. Samuel Sharp.

  2. Pearlnoun

    A white speck or film growing on the eye. Robert Ainsworth

    Etymology: albugo , Lat.

Wikipedia

  1. Pearl

    A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate (mainly aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite) in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes, known as baroque pearls, can occur. The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but 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 currently sold. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also used to adorn clothing. They have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines and paint formulations. Whether wild or cultured, gem-quality pearls are almost always nacreous and iridescent, like the interior of the shell that produces them. However, almost all species of shelled mollusks are capable of producing pearls (technically "calcareous concretions") of lesser shine or less spherical shape. Although these may also be legitimately referred to as "pearls" by gemological labs and also under U.S. Federal Trade Commission rules, and are formed in the same way, most of them have no value except as curiosities.

ChatGPT

  1. pearl

    A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced within the soft tissue of a living, shelled mollusk like an oyster or clam. It is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers as a protective mechanism against irritants. Pearls are prized as gemstones and are often used in jewelry. They are the only gemstones that are created by living organisms.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pearlnoun

    a fringe or border

  2. Pearl

    to fringe; to border

  3. Pearlnoun

    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. Pearlnoun

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

  5. Pearlnoun

    nacre, or mother-of-pearl

  6. Pearlnoun

    a fish allied to the turbot; the brill

  7. Pearlnoun

    a light-colored tern

  8. Pearlnoun

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

  9. Pearlnoun

    a whitish speck or film on the eye

  10. Pearlnoun

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

  11. Pearlnoun

    a size of type, between agate and diamond

  12. Pearladjective

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

  13. Pearlverb

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

  14. Pearlverb

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

  15. Pearlverb

    to resemble pearl or pearls

  16. Pearlverb

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

  17. Etymology: [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.]

Wikidata

  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

  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

  1. PEARL

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

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. pearl

    A beautiful concretion found in the interior of the shells of many species of mollusca, resulting from the deposit of nacreous substance round some nucleus, mostly of foreign origin. The Meleagrina margaritifera, or pearl oyster of the Indian seas, yields the most numerous and finest specimens.

Suggested Resources

  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.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. PEARL

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pearl is ranked #4687 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Pearl surname appeared 7,570 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 would have the surname Pearl.

    83.7% or 6,343 total occurrences were White.
    9.9% or 751 total occurrences were Black.
    2.6% or 203 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    2% or 156 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    1.1% or 84 total occurrences were Asian.
    0.4% or 33 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for Pearl »

  1. parle

  2. APLer

  3. paler

  4. perla

  5. lepra

  6. relap

  7. parel

How to pronounce Pearl?

How to say Pearl in sign language?

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

Examples of Pearl in a Sentence

  1. Anthony Summers:

    The fact that there have only been two big catastrophes -- one was Pearl Harbor... and the other was 9/11. They are both the same kind of stature and horror in the American memory.

  2. Jon Gray:

    We have recently had some of the biggest country acts play the room -- from Zac Brown Band to Chris Stapleton -- and this genre consistently does extremely well at the Pearl.

  3. Vice President Harris:

    They're trying to turn [Jan. 6] into Pearl Harbor. They're trying to turn it into 9/11 … They do this to place a target on the backs of their political enemies … That's a coordinated effort. And they want this thing to be permanent. Every year, we're going to have to do that. I say, no. ‘F’ you.

  4. President Donald Trump:

    They say take it, i'm not looking at it one way or the other, but Pearl Harbor weekFor doctors want to get out of this. If it does work, it would be a shame if Pearl Harbor weekFor doctors didn't do it early. But Pearl Harbor weekFor doctors have some very good signs.

  5. Dennis Quaid:

    Special Screening at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oct. 20, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii. ( Photo by Marco Garcia/Getty Images for Lionsgate Entertainment) Dennis Quaid, 65, AND PHD STUDENT Laura Savoie, 26, WILL MARRY WITHIN THE YEAR, STAR SAYS Quaid also shared it was never his intention to find someone Savoies age. I didnt go out looking for an age gap or someone really younger than me, he explained. I met Laura Savoie at a business event and then the relationship developed. You have no control over who you fall in love with, he continued. I dont fall in love easily. But I cant let what a few people think control all that. Ive been married three times and this is the final one, I know it is. I feel like I have a real partner in life. Quaid was previously dating longtime girlfriend Santa Auzina, whom he was last photographed with in December 2018, People Magazine reported. The couple, who were together for a little over two years, began dating after Dennis Quaid split from Dennis Quaid wife of 12 years, Kimberly Buffington, in 2016. The former pair finalized their divorced in April 2018. Quaid was previously married to actress Meg Ryan. The 10-year marriage ended in 2001. Dennis Quaid, 65, DATING PHD STUDENT Laura Savoie, 26 : REPORTS Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan are pictured here in February 2000. Dennis Quaid spoke to Fox News about Dennis Quaid first-ever splurge for the holidays. ( Photo by KMazur/WireImage via Getty) Dennis Quaid HOPES BY SHARING Dennis Quaid STORY WITH PAST ADDICTION ITLL HELP OTHERS : LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL AFTERWARDS And before that, Dennis Quaid was married to actress P.J. Soles from 1978 until 1983. Earlier this month, Dennis Quaid told Entertainment Tonight hes eager to be a married man within the year. Youve got a year, right ? Dennis Quaid told the outlet. And if you go past a year without getting married, then youre suspect. Thats basic etiquette. According to Dennis Quaid, Dennis Quaid and Savoite began planning their wedding the next minute after Dennis Quaid popped the question in Hawaii last month. I think shes looking at wedding dresses today, Dennis Quaid said. Shes got ta get started. Dennis Quaid SHOWS OFF LAURA SAVOIES ENGAGEMENT RING According to People Magazine, this photo shows Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie on May 14, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. ( Photo by gotpap/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) DENNIS QUAID ON NATASHA RICHARDSONS DEATH 10 YEARS LATER : SHES A BEAUTIFUL PERSON In late October, Dennis Quaid confirmed to Extra Dennis Quaid proposed to the 26-year-old after several months of dating. I had the ring in my pocket, Dennis Quaid gushed to the outlet. It has been kind of a month-and-a-half plan I wanted it to be private. At the time, Dennis Quaid revealed Dennis Quaid waited for the perfect sunset to pop the question. She was actually taking a selfie of us, and I put the ring in front and said, Will you marry me ? And then she fell down.

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Translations for Pearl

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    joint that forms a corner; usually both sides are bevelled at a 45-degree angle to form a 90-degree corner
    A secession
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