as in opalescent
having a rainbowlike play of colors
the nacreous lining of the shell of a mollusk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of nacreous
Tiffany has a long-standing history with pearls, both nacreous—from oysters and mollusks—and non-nacreous, like Melo Melo pearls.
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Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 20 Feb. 2021
Unfortunately, nacreous clouds also support chemical reactions that convert benign chlorine-containing molecules into a form that destroys Earth’s ozone layer.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2012
Quahogs produce non-nacreous, porcelainlike pearls, according to the Gemological Institute of America.
—Shannon Marvel McNaught, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022
Markov processes include an element of randomness—in this case, the thickness of the outermost nacreous layer—but one that can be influenced by the system’s history.
—Leila Sloman, Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2022
An alternative explanation is that the red skies were the result of nacreous clouds common to that particular latitude.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 May 2020
Also called polar stratospheric clouds (or less precisely, rainbow clouds), nacreous clouds normally only form in high latitudes and at extremely cold temperatures.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
The cold air the storm blew in also led to the formation of beautiful nacreous clouds.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, 20 Feb. 2021
Unfortunately, nacreous clouds also support chemical reactions that convert benign chlorine-containing molecules into a form that destroys Earth’s ozone layer.
—Rebecca Coffey, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2012
Quahogs produce non-nacreous, porcelainlike pearls, according to the Gemological Institute of America.
—Shannon Marvel McNaught, USA TODAY, 16 Aug. 2022
Markov processes include an element of randomness—in this case, the thickness of the outermost nacreous layer—but one that can be influenced by the system’s history.
—Leila Sloman, Popular Mechanics, 28 Feb. 2022
An alternative explanation is that the red skies were the result of nacreous clouds common to that particular latitude.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 21 May 2020
Also called polar stratospheric clouds (or less precisely, rainbow clouds), nacreous clouds normally only form in high latitudes and at extremely cold temperatures.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
The cold air the storm blew in also led to the formation of beautiful nacreous clouds.
—National Geographic, 3 Feb. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nacreous
Adjective
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Her nails, designed by her go-to nail artist Miho Okawara, were a long almond shape painted with an iridescent pale gray with an opalescent finish that shifted from pale pink to pale blue with the light.Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Oct. 2024
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Inside a wet glint, opalescent, full as an egg of creamy gray shadow, sediment ground down finely and suspended like a verdict in a tone.Frances Leviston, The New York Review of Books, 26 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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This causes flakes of glass to start separating from the surface, which creates an iridescent sheen.Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
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Go sweet and whimsical with iridescent or glittery finishes to add some interest to unsaturated shades like spearmint, lilac, and baby blue.Halee Miller Van Ryswyk, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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The touch bevel design gives it a sleek look while the AMOLED display creates a vividly bright and colorful watch face (which can be set to always-on, by the way).Cierra Cowan, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
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For spring 2025, the colorful and lively world of Rosie Assoulin is expanding with the launch of the New York luxury brand’s new Core program.Emily Mercer, WWD, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Shields wore a vintage cream gown that once belonged to her mother, Teri, which was adorned with pearlescent beads and crystals.Hannah Malach, WWD, 27 Oct. 2024
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Look for a pearlescent polish with a silvery cast, as opposed to one with a shimmery white finish.Allure Editors, Allure, 21 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near nacreous
Cite this Entry
“Nacreous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nacreous. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
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