pearl
/pɝl/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.14 in modern English
Meaning
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. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
Countable; Uncountable
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. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.
Countable; Uncountable
noun
A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for, e.g., medicinal application.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "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.""
- "Boast not of your eyes; it is feared you have Balaam's disease, a pearl in your eye, Mammon's prestriction."
- "clinical pearls"
- "My mouth and tongue finally find her pearl. Her clitoris."
- "Teasing her pearl she shakes in my arms, rolling her eyes and throwing the pussy at me."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /pɝl/
- British English: /pɜːl/