mother-of-pearl

noun
UK: /ˌmʌðər əv ˈpɜːrl/
US: /ˌmʌðər əv ˈpɜːrl/

  1. A smooth, shiny substance forming the inner layer of the shells of some mollusks, used for decoration.

    1. The buttons are made of mother-of-pearl.
    2. The antique box was inlaid with delicate pieces of shimmering mother-of-pearl.

Synonyms

nacre
mother-of-pearl adjective

  1. Having a milky iridescence like mother-of-pearl.

    1. The sky had a mother-of-pearl sheen at sunset.
    2. The artist used mother-of-pearl pigments to create a subtle, opalescent effect in her painting.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "mother-of-pearl" is /ˌmʌðər əv ˈpɜːrl/ in British English and /ˌmʌðər əv ˈpɜːrl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "mother-of-pearl": nacre.

Example usage of "mother-of-pearl": "The buttons are made of mother-of-pearl.". More examples on the page.