nacreous
Like mother-of-pearl
Nacreous describes the iridescent, rainbow-shimmering quality of nacre—the substance lining certain shells, also called mother-of-pearl.
The word appears most often in technical or literary contexts: nacreous clouds, the nacreous interior of an abalone shell.
It suggests a lustrous, pearly surface that shifts color with the light.
Nacreous marine gastropod
- oysterPearl-bearing edible mollusk
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
- bivalveTwo-shelled mollusk
gastropod · conch · mussel · pearl · aragonite · calcium carbonate · laminar · shell
Iridescent inner shell coating
- opalescentShowing milky iridescence
- pearlescentShowing soft iridescence
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
- rainbowRefracted light arc
spectral · holographic · shimmering · lustrous · gleaming · scintillating · luminous · radiant
abalone
Nacreous marine gastropod
- oysterPearl-bearing edible mollusk
- nautilusChambered marine mollusk
- molluskSoft-bodied invertebrate, often shelled
bivalve · gastropod · conch · mussel · pearl · aragonite · calcium carbonate · laminar · shell · iridescence
mother-of-pearl
Iridescent inner shell coating
- opalescentShowing milky iridescence
- pearlescentShowing soft iridescence
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
rainbow · spectral · holographic · shimmering · lustrous · gleaming · scintillating · luminous · radiant · effulgent
pearly
Resembling mother-of-shell
- silkenSmooth and lustrous
- milkyWhitish and cloudy
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
delicate · ethereal · dreamy · pastel · gossamer · diaphanous · moonlit · dewy · silvery · creamy
nacreousdull
Lacking edge or interest
matte · lusterless · flat · unreflective · lackluster