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Pearl River

Pearl River

1 4.4
A river in the southern United States that flows through Mississippi and Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico
  • proper noun
  • /pɜrl ˈrɪvər/
: Río Pearl
  • The Pearl River is known for its scenic views.

Examples

  • Kayakers enjoyed a peaceful afternoon paddling along the scenic Pearl River.

  • Many tourists visit the Pearl River each year.

  • Many communities rely on the Pearl River for their water supply.

  • The Pearl River serves as a natural boundary between parts of Mississippi and Louisiana.

  • Tourists enjoy kayaking and fishing along the scenic Pearl River.

  • During the heavy rain, the water level of the Pearl River rose quickly and flooded nearby areas.

  • The Pearl River flows through several towns before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

Surface Forms

Morphology

pearl + river

The name is compositionally built from 'pearl' + 'river' and so an English learner who knows both words can deduce it denotes a river called (or associated with) Pearl; the basic sense 'a river' is directly derivable. Proper-name specifics (its location in China) are not predictable from the constituents but that does not affect the compositional transparency of the label itself.

Etymology

Pearl River in the southern United States may be named for the small freshwater mussels that once lived there and sometimes produced tiny pearls. People who found those pearls gave the river its name, so the name points to a 'river with pearls'.