pearl — a hard, lustrous object produced within the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a hard, lustrous object produced within the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk
Pronunciation (IPA): /pɜːrl/
Example Sentences
- The oyster was so stingy that it took 20 years to make one tiny pearl!
- My grandmother's pearl earrings are family heirlooms.
- He discovered a pearl of an idea while showering.
pearl
NOUN[/pɜːrl/]
a hard, lustrous object produced within the soft tissue of a shelled mollusk
Lustrous pearl inside oyster shell
The girl holds her pearl as ocean waves swirl.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Old French 'perle', which originated from Latin 'perna', meaning a leg-shaped or ham-shaped shellfish. The term was applied to pearls because they were frequently found in the leg-like appendages of certain mollusks.
Breakdown
Latin 'perna' (leg-shaped shell) → Old French 'perle' → English 'pearl'. The morphological shift from perna to perle reflects phonetic changes during the transition from Latin through Old French.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The oyster was so stingy that it took 20 years to make one tiny pearl!”
“My grandmother's pearl earrings are family heirlooms.”
“He discovered a pearl of an idea while showering.”
“The chef said his restaurant was the pearl of the city, but the food tasted like sand!”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.