pearl
noun/pɜːl/
/pɜːrl/
Idioms - [countable] a small hard shiny white ball that forms inside the shell of an oyster and is of great value as a jewel
enlarge image珍珠 - a string of pearls
一串珍珠 - a pearl necklace
珍珠项链 - She was wearing her pearls (= a necklace of pearls).
她戴着她的珍珠项链。
- a string of pearls
- [countable] a copy of a pearl that is made artificially
人造珍珠 - (also mother-of-pearl)[uncountable] the hard smooth shiny substance in various colours that forms a layer inside the shells of some types of shellfish and is used in making buttons and for decoration
珠母层；珍珠母 - pearl buttons
珍珠母纽扣
- pearl buttons
- [countable, usually singular] a thing that looks like a pearl in shape or colour
（形状或颜色）像珍珠之物 - pearls of dew on the grass
草上的露珠
- pearls of dew on the grass
- [countable] a thing that is very highly valued
极有价值的东西 - She is a pearl among women.
她是女中豪杰。 - The ski resort is known as the Pearl of the Alps.
该滑雪场被誉为阿尔卑斯山的明珠。
- She is a pearl among women.
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French perle, perhaps based on Latin perna ‘leg’, extended to denote a leg-of-mutton-shaped bivalve.
Idioms
cast, throw, etc. pearls before swine
- to give or offer valuable things to people who do not understand their value
明珠暗投；对牛弹琴
a pearl of wisdom
- (usually ironic) a wise remark
睿智的语言；隽语；妙语 - Thank you for those pearls of wisdom.
谢谢你的金玉良言。
Extra Examples- students eager to catch pearls of wisdom from the professor's lips
渴望从教授口中得到至理名言的学生 - They would treat these pearls of wisdom with some scepticism.
他们会对这些智慧珍珠持怀疑态度。 - His journals are full of dubious pearls of homespun wisdom.
他的日记中记下了许多朴素却不可靠的箴言。
- Thank you for those pearls of wisdom.