Opal vs. Pearl

Opalnoun

(mineral) A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity, of the chemical formula SiO2·nH2O.

Opalnoun

A colloquial name used in molecular biology referring to a particular stop codon sequence, "UGA."

Opalnoun

(entomology) Any of various lycaenid butterflies of the genus Nesolycaena.

Opalnoun

A mineral consisting, like quartz, of silica, but inferior to quartz in hardness and specific gravity.

Opalnoun

a translucent mineral consisting of hydrated silica of variable color; some varieties are used as gemstones

Opalnoun

a gemstone consisting of a form of hydrated silica, typically semi-transparent and showing many small points of shifting colour against a pale or dark ground

Opal

Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silica (SiO2·nH2O); its water content may range from 3 to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6 and 10%. Because of its amorphous character, it is classed as a mineraloid, unlike crystalline forms of silica, which are classed as minerals.

Pearlnoun

A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Round lustrous pearls are used in jewellery.

Pearlnoun

(figuratively) Something precious.

Pearlnoun

A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing liquid for e.g. medicinal application.

Pearlnoun

Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

Pearlnoun

A whitish speck or film on the eye.

Pearlnoun

A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

Pearlnoun

A light-colored tern.

Pearlnoun

One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

Pearlnoun

The size of type between diamond and agate, standardized as 5-point.

Pearlnoun

A fringe or border.

Pearlnoun

(obsolete) A jewel or gem.

Pearlnoun

The clitoris.

Pearlverb

To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl.

Pearlverb

(transitive) To cause to resemble pearls in shape; to make into small round grains.

Pearlverb

(transitive) To cause to resemble pearls in lustre or iridescence.

Pearlverb

(intransitive) To resemble pearl or pearls.

Pearlverb

(intransitive) To hunt for pearls

Pearlverb

to dig the nose of one's surfboard into the water, often on takeoff.

Pearlnoun

A fringe or border.

Pearlnoun

A shelly concretion, usually rounded, and having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found in the mantle, or between the mantle and shell, of certain bivalve mollusks, especially in the pearl oysters and river mussels, and sometimes in certain univalves. It is usually due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

Pearlnoun

Hence, figuratively, something resembling a pearl; something very precious.

Pearlnoun

Nacre, or mother-of-pearl.

Pearlnoun

A fish allied to the turbot; the brill.

Pearlnoun

A light-colored tern.

Pearlnoun

One of the circle of tubercles which form the bur on a deer's antler.

Pearlnoun

A whitish speck or film on the eye.

Pearlnoun

A capsule of gelatin or similar substance containing some liquid for medicinal application, as ether.

Pearlnoun

A size of type, between agate and diamond.

Pearladjective

Of or pertaining to pearl or pearls; made of pearls, or of mother-of-pearl.

Pearlverb

To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.

Pearlverb

To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.

Pearlverb

To resemble pearl or pearls.

Pearlverb

To dive or hunt for pearls; as, to go pearling.

Pearlnoun

a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel

Pearlnoun

a shade of white the color of bleached bones

Pearlnoun

a shape that is small and round;

Pearlverb

gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean

Pearlnoun

a hard, lustrous spherical mass, typically white or bluish-grey, formed within the shell of a pearl oyster or other bivalve mollusc and highly prized as a gem

Pearlnoun

an artificial imitation of a pearl.

Pearlnoun

a necklace of pearls

Pearlnoun

something resembling a pearl

Pearlnoun

short for mother-of-pearl

Pearlnoun

a very pale bluish grey or white colour like that of a pearl

Pearlnoun

a person or thing of great worth

Pearlnoun

another term for picot

Pearlverb

form drops resembling pearls

Pearlverb

make bluish-grey

Pearlverb

dive or fish for pearl oysters

Pearl

A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate (mainly aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite) in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers.