(pûrl) noun
1. A lustrous, calcareous concretion deposited in layers around a central nucleus in the shells of various mollusks, and largely used as a gem.
2. Something like or likened to such a jewel in form, luster, value, etc.
3. Nacre or mother–of–pearl; also, the color of nacre, or pearl blue.
4. The color of a pearl, a delicate gray: also pearl gray.
5. Printing A size of type, smaller than agate, 5 points.
—adjective
1. Pertaining to, consisting of, set with, or made of pearl or mother–of–pearl: a pearl button; a pearl ring.
2. Shaped like a pearl: pearl barley.
—v.i.
1. To seek or fish for pearls.
2. To form beads like pearls.
—v.t.
3. To adorn or set with or as with pearls.
4. To color or shape like pearls.
5. To make into small round grains, as barley. ♦ Homophone: purl. [<OF perle <Med. L perla; ult. origin unknown]

(pûrl), Raymond,
1879–1940, U. S. biologist.