pearl-button

A tailor sews a pearl-button onto a new shirt.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A button made of pearl or mother-of-pearl: "pearl-button" refers to a small, often decorative fastener for clothing, crafted from the nacreous material of a mollusk shell or a synthetic imitation thereof.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She sewed a pearl-button onto the collar of her silk blouse. (A button made of pearl used to fasten the garment.)
  • The vintage dress featured intricate pearl-buttons down the back. (Decorative buttons crafted from mother-of-pearl.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a pearl-button finish": to describe a surface or item that is polished or adorned with a pearl-like sheen, often in reference to buttons.
  • The cufflinks had a pearl-button finish that caught the light. (The surface resembled the luster of a pearl button.)

Variants and Related Words

• Pearl-buttoned (adj): describing a garment or item fastened with pearl buttons.

  • She wore a pearl-buttoned cardigan over her dress. (A cardigan with buttons made of pearl.)

• Mother-of-pearl button (n): a specific type of pearl-button made from the inner shell layer of mollusks.

  • The antique shirt had mother-of-pearl buttons. (Buttons made from the iridescent layer of a shell.)

Synonyms

• Nacre button: a button made from mother-of-pearl (nacre is the technical term for the material).
• Shell button: a button crafted from a seashell, often used interchangeably with pearl-button.

Related Idioms

• "as shiny as a pearl-button": used to describe something very glossy or polished.

  • His shoes were as shiny as a pearl-button. (The shoes had a high, reflective gloss.)

• "pearl-button etiquette": an informal phrase referring to the proper way to fasten or display such buttons on formal attire.

  • He followed pearl-button etiquette by leaving the top button undone. (A social rule about buttoning.)