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Glite Dictionary
pearly nautilus

pearly nautilus

9.9
A sea animal like a squid that has a spiral shiny shell
  • noun
  • /ˈpɜrli ˈnɔːtɪləs/
translation icon : nautilus perlado
  • The pearly nautilus is often admired for its beautifully spiraled shell.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the habitat of the pearly nautilus in the Pacific Ocean.

  • The pearly nautilus is often found in deep ocean waters.

  • Ancient jewelry sometimes contains pieces of pearly nautilus shell due to its unique luster.

  • Have you ever seen a pearly nautilus in its natural habitat?

  • The pearly nautilus is often admired for its beautifully spiraled shell.

  • Researchers studied the habitat of the pearly nautilus in the Pacific Ocean.

  • Ancient jewelry sometimes contains pieces of pearly nautilus shell due to its unique luster.

Synonyms

nautilus
vspearly nautilus
1 8.4

A sea animal with a spiral shell that has inner chambers

is narrower, referring to the Indian and Pacific species with pale pearly partitions
chambered nautilus
vspearly nautilus
  • Australian
9.9

A sea animal with a spiral shell divided into chambers and shiny white walls

is the same but highlights pale pearly partitions in its shell

Surface Forms

pearly nautilus singular
pearly nautiluses plural

Morphology

pearly + nautilus

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival modifier + noun: 'pearly' (having a pearl-like sheen) describes the 'nautilus' (a marine cephalopod), so the overall meaning is directly inferable as a nautilus with a pearly appearance. This is a compositional, non-idiomatic description following common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.

Etymology

Pearly nautilus may come from its shiny, pale shell: pearly means 'pearl-like' shine and nautilus is an old word for a sea animal with a spiral shell. So, the name helps you remember that a pearly nautilus is the sea creature with a pale, 'pearl-like' spiral shell.