Library / English Dictionary

PEARL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A shade of white the color of bleached bones

Synonyms:

bone; ivory; off-white; pearl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("pearl" is a kind of...):

white; whiteness (the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black))

Derivation:

pearly (of a white the color of pearls)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("pearl" is a kind of...):

gem; jewel; precious stone (a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pearl"):

seed pearl (a small imperfect pearl)

Derivation:

pearl (gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A shape that is spherical and small

Example:

beads of sweat on his forehead

Synonyms:

bead; drop; pearl

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Hypernyms ("pearl" is a kind of...):

sphere (a solid figure bounded by a spherical surface (including the space it encloses))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "pearl"):

dewdrop (a drop of dew)

teardrop (anything shaped like a falling drop (as a pendant gem on an earring))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "pearl" is one way to...):

collect; garner; gather; pull together (assemble or get together)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sentence example:

In the summer they like to go out and pearl

Derivation:

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

pearler (a diver who searches for molluscs containing pearls)

Credits

 Context examples: 

If you can conceive me as a thin and colourless cord upon which my would-be pearls are strung, you will be accepting me upon the terms which I should wish.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He would buy a schooner—one of those yacht- like, coppered crafts that sailed like witches—and go trading copra and pearling among the islands.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Four—an incense-boat, a ewer of silver, a gold buckle and a cope worked in pearls.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Researchers have hypothesized that versatility in protein function is achievable by stringing together well-folded proteins with IDPs—rather like pearl necklaces.

(Biomaterial Artificial Protein Helps Heal Tissue, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Here the gray walked in first, beckoning me to attend: I waited in the second room, and got ready my presents for the master and mistress of the house; they were two knives, three bracelets of false pearls, a small looking-glass, and a bead necklace.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Upon recollection, however, I have a notion they are both dead; at least the mother is; yes, I am sure Mrs. Tilney is dead, because Mrs. Hughes told me there was a very beautiful set of pearls that Mr. Drummond gave his daughter on her wedding-day and that Miss Tilney has got now, for they were put by for her when her mother died.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The ivory, the gold, and the pearls, all received their appointment, and the gentleman having named the last day on which his existence could be continued without the possession of the toothpick-case, drew on his gloves with leisurely care, and bestowing another glance on the Miss Dashwoods, but such a one as seemed rather to demand than express admiration, walked off with a happy air of real conceit and affected indifference.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

India grows a variety of coarse grains — including sorghum, pearl millet, maize, barley, and finger millet — as well as many ‘small millets’ such as kodo millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, and barnyard millet.

(Course grains better than rice for health, environment, SciDev.Net)

The main fact is that he had the pearl, and at that moment, when it was on his person, he was pursued by the police.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All three had brilliant white teeth that shone like pearls against the ruby of their voluptuous lips.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)