pearlescent

English

Etymology

From pearl + -escent. First attested in 1926.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pəːˈlɛsənt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /pərˈlɛsənt/

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

• Hyphenation: pear‧les‧cent
• Rhymes: -ɛsənt

Adjective

pearlescent (comparative more pearlescent, superlative most pearlescent)

1. Pearl-like, either in color or luster.

   Synonyms: iridescent, opalescent, lustrous, nacreous

   Antonyms: matte, flat, dull

   • 1932 December 24, Alice Payne Hackett, “Selling America”, in The Publishers’ Weekly: The American Booktrade Journal, volume 122, number 26, New York, N.Y.: R. R. Bowker Co., →OCLC, page 2309:

     Everyone who has the slightest chance of eve going on a honeymoon is a potential customer for “The Story of Bermuda” by Hudson Strode (Smith & Haas). With its beautiful photographs and pearlescent binding, this book makes Bermuda seem a delightful place before even a word of its pleasant text is read.

   • 1959 December 10, “Lead Association Budget Provides $¾-Million for Research”, in Alvin W. Knoerr, editor, E&MJ Metal and Mineral Markets, volume 30, number 50, New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 6:

     Successful continuous extrusion of a variety of lead alloys for power and communications cable sheathing has opened still other possibilities. There are new lead pigments, including those of the pearlescent type, low-firing porcelain enamels for aluminum, steel and other metals, and low-loss dielectric ceramics for electronics, all of which will be given attention, [Robert L.] Ziegfeld said.

   • 1983, “The Colourless colours”, in Helen Varley, editor, Colour, London: Marshall Editions Limited, →ISBN, page 182:

     In the silvery belly scales of the herring, deposits of minute, platelike crystals lie parallel to the scales’ surface, giving a pearly gleam to the grey fish. As long as 200 years ago, this pearlescent pigment was extracted from the fish and injected into beads to simulate pearls.

   • 2003, Christopher Paolini, “Palancar Valley”, in Eragon, page 16:

     The pearlescent moon peeked over the mountains, bathing the land in a ghostly reflection of daylight. Everything looked bleached and flat.

   • 2008, Alisa Golden, “Inks, Paints, and Other Media”, in Painted Paper: Techniques & Projects for Handmade Books & Cards, New York, N.Y.: Sterling Publishing Co., →ISBN, page 14:

     The pearlescent inks have bits of shimmery, light-reflective material in them that make them look glittery; these are all transparent.

Usage notes

• Often refers to colors, finishes, textures, or coatings that show gentle shifts of light.

Derived terms

• pearlescence
• pearlescently

See also

• mother-of-pearl
• nacre