pearl diver
1
6.4
- noun
:
buceador de perlas
- The pearl divers carefully search the seabed for valuable oysters that might contain pearls.
Examples
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I have been prepared for this moment since my breasts first began to swell; for years I have prepared my body for this, to be a pearl diver.
Fiction book (1995) -
Do l look like a pearl diver?
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I've heard about Japanese pearl divers who lower their heart rate so they could stay underwater.
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I am a pearl diver, and I know how to see through the shadows and murk.
Fiction book (1995) -
The overall effect was to turn the northern reaches of the Persian Gulf into a haven for oysters and rich coral beds, on which the pearl divers of Kuwait made a living before oil was discovered.
Academic text (2007) -
Popular images of ama depict sexy young women in the traditional white diving outfit and tend to identify them as pearl divers rather than the less exciting abalone divers.
Academic text (1997) -
In Japan, skilled pearl divers free dive to depths of over 20 meters to gather oysters.
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Many pearl divers wear weighted belts to help them stay submerged longer while searching for pearls.
Synonyms
127
2.1
A person who goes underwater to swim or work, often with special gear
7
3.2
A person who swims underwater using a breathing tank
2
5.8
A person who dives deep in the sea using special equipment to protect from high pressure
1
5.0
A person who swims underwater with a mask and fins for fun or sport
A person who dives underwater to find shells with pearls
A Japanese woman who dives without breathing gear to collect shellfish or pearls
A person who dives underwater to do work like catching fish or checking pipes
A person who works or swims under water using breathing gear
How Risky
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a person who dives to collect pearls' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pearl' (the object collected) with 'diver' (a person who dives). This simple modifier+head noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun pearl diver comes from the simple image of a diver going underwater to open oysters and find pearls. So today, pearl diver means 'a person who dives underwater to collect pearls'.