pearl

pearl
pearl [ pɜrl ] noun *
1. ) count a small round jewel that is white and shiny and that grows inside the shell of an OYSTER:
a string of pearls
a pearl necklace
a ) an artificial jewel like this
2. ) uncount a hard substance that is inside some shells and looks shiny like a pearl: MOTHER-OF-PEARL:
pearl buttons
3. ) count usually singular someone or something considered very good, valuable, or beautiful:
Singapore is sometimes described as the pearl of the Orient.
4. ) count OLD-FASHIONED a stupid remark made by someone that is very funny:
He came out with some absolute pearls.
cast pearls before swine
to offer something good or helpful to someone who does not value it
pearls of wisdom HUMOROUS
things that someone says when they are trying to seem wise. This phrase usually shows that you think what someone has said sounds stupid.

Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.

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  • Pearl — (engl. für „Perle“) bezeichnet: Pearl (Pferdefarbe), ein Gen, das die Fellfarbe von Pferden aufhellt Pearl (Tanz), einen Solo Tanzstil Pearl (Gedicht), ein mittelenglisches Gedicht Pearl (Band), eine US amerikanische Rockband Pearl (Album), das… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pearl — Pearl, n. [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.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Pearl —   [Abk. für Process and Experiment Automatisation Realtime Language, dt. »Echtzeitsprache für die Automatisierung von Prozessen und Experimenten«], eine höhere Programmiersprache zur weitgehend systemunabhängigen Programmierung von Multitasking… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • pearl — pearl1 [pʉrl] n. [ME perle < MFr < VL * perla, *perula, altered (? after L sphaerula,SPHERULE) < L perna, a sea mussel, lit., a ham: from the shape of its peduncle] 1. a smooth, hard, usually white or bluish gray body of varied but… …   English World dictionary

  • Pearl — Альбом Дженис Джоплин Дата выпуска 1 февраля 1971 года Записан 5 сентября – …   Википедия

  • pearl|y — «PUR lee», adjective, pearl|i|er, pearl|i|est, noun, plural lies. –adj. 1. like a pearl; having the color or luster of pearls: »pearly teeth …   Useful english dictionary

  • Pearl — Pearl, IL U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 187 Housing Units (2000): 96 Land area (2000): 1.506776 sq. miles (3.902531 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.086843 sq. miles (0.224922 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.593619 sq. miles (4.127453 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • pearl — (n.) mid 13c., from O.Fr. perle (13c.), M.L. perla (mid 13c.), of unknown origin. Perhaps from V.L. *pernula, dim. of L. perna in Sicily, pearl, earlier sea mussel, lit. ham, so called for the shape of the mollusk shells. Another theory connects… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pearl — [pə:l US pə:rl] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(jewel)¦ 2¦(hard substance)¦ 3 pearls of wisdom 4 cast/throw pearls before swine 5¦(liquid)¦ 6¦(excellent thing/person)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ [Date: 1300 1400; : Old French; Origin: perle, from Vulgar Latin pernula, from Latin… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Pearl — Pearl, a. Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother of pearl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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