pearl

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

pearl [pearl pearls pearled pearling] BrE [pɜːl] NAmE [pɜːrl] noun
1. countable a small hard shiny white ball that forms inside the shell of an ↑oyster and is of great value as a ↑jewel
•a string of pearls
•a pearl necklace
•She was wearing her pearls (= a ↑necklace of ↑pearls ).
see also ↑seed pearl
2. countable a copy of a pearl that is made artificially
3. uncountable = ↑mother-of-pearl
•pearl buttons
4. countable, usually singular a thing that looks like a pearl in shape or colour
•pearls of dew on the grass
5. countable a thing that is very highly valued
•She is a pearl among women.
•The ski resort is known as the Pearl of the Alps.
Idioms: cast/throw pearls before swine ▪ ↑pearl of wisdom

Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French perle, perhaps based on Latin perna ‘leg’, extended to denote a leg-of-mutton-shaped bivalve.

• Từ đồng nghĩa / Synonyms:
  drop, bead, bone, ivory, off-white