Nácar (en. Mother-of-pearl)

/ˈnakar/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish
noun
A white and shiny substance that forms inside the shells of certain mollusks, such as oysters.
Nacre is used in jewelry for its beauty and shine.
El nácar se utiliza en joyería por su belleza y brillo.
An artistic element that imitates the appearance of nacre in various materials.
The craftsmanship features nacre details that enhance its beauty.
La artesanía presenta detalles en nácar que realzan su belleza.
The layers of nacre in a shell are what give it its characteristic iridescent shine.
The shells of pearls are coated with nacre.
Las conchas de las perlas están recubiertas de nácar.

Etymology

From Hispano-Arabic 'nāqar', and this from Arabic 'naqār'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

to shine like nacre
To stand out for its beauty or quality.
brillar como el nácar
to do something in nacre
To do something with great care and attention to detail.
hacer algo de nácar

Related Words

mother-of-pearl
A material similar to nacre, obtained from the shells of certain mollusks.
madreperla
pearl
A gem that forms inside shells, often associated with nacre.
perla

Slang Meanings

Used in contexts to refer to something beautiful or shiny.
That decoration is made of nacre, it looks incredible.
Esa decoración está hecha de nácar, luce increíble.
In some contexts, nacre refers to something delicate or fragile.
It is as fragile as nacre, you have to be careful.
Es tan frágil como el nácar, tienes que tener cuidado.