Etymology dictionary. 2014.
mother-of-pearl — [muth′ərəv pʉrl′] n. [transl. of ML mater perlarum: orig. applied to the marine animal, later to the shell] the hard, pearly internal layer of certain marine shells, as of the pearl oyster or abalone, which is used in the arts, in making pearl… … English World dictionary
Mother-of-pearl — Moth er of pearl , n. (Zo[ o]l.) The hard, iridescent, pearly internal layer of several kinds of shells, esp. of pearl oysters, river mussels, and the abalone shells; nacre. See {Pearl}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mother-of-pearl — n [U] a pale coloured hard smooth shiny substance that forms the inside of some ↑shellfish, and is used for making buttons, jewellery etc … Dictionary of contemporary English
mother-of-pearl — noun uncount the shiny layer inside some shells, used for making buttons, jewelry, etc … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
mother-of-pearl — ► NOUN ▪ a smooth pearly substance lining the shells of oysters, abalones, and certain other molluscs … English terms dictionary
mother-of-pearl — noun the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell • Syn: ↑nacre • Derivationally related forms: ↑nacreous (for: ↑nacre) • Hypernyms: ↑shell * * * ˌmother of ˈpearl … Useful english dictionary
mother-of-pearl — /mudh euhr euhv perrl /, n. 1. a hard, iridescent substance that forms the inner layer of certain mollusk shells, used for making buttons, beads, etc.; nacre. adj. 2. of or having the qualities of mother of pearl, as being iridescent or pearly:… … Universalium
mother-of-pearl — also mother of pearl N UNCOUNT Mother of pearl is the shiny layer on the inside of some shells. It is used to make buttons or to decorate things … English dictionary
mother-of-pearl — perlamutras statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Dvigeldžių moliuskų kriauklės vidinis sluoksnis, susidedantis iš plonų aragonito plokštelių. atitikmenys: angl. mother of pearl; nacre; pearl vok. Perlmutter, f rus. перламутр, m … Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas
mother-of-pearl — 1. adjective Made from or looking like mother of pearl; iridescent or pearly. 2. noun The hard pearly inner layer of certain mollusk shells; nacre. Syn: nacre … Wiktionary
