nacre

noun

na·​cre ˈnā-kər 

: mother-of-pearl

Examples of nacre in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are often colored blue, black, or dark brown on the outside, with interiors made of the shining nacre, or mother-of-pearl, layer. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Aug. 2026

They’re formed when a grain of grit enters an oyster’s shell, and the mollusk coats that irritant with layer after layer of nacre. — Bykaren R. McDaniel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

But where limestone is crumbly and opaque, nacre’s toughness and light-bending properties come from silklike proteins that weave among the layers, holding them in place while providing enough elasticity to absorb the shock of a fracture. — Caitlin Kennedy, Scientific American, 25 Apr. 2026

Private is the mystery incandescence of her nacre, coveting which the likes of us killed her ancestors to make buttons, souvenirs, entire garments for ritual dancers who sought to banish their demons with her magical inner light. — Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Old Italian naccara drum, nacre, from Arabic naqqāra drum

First Known Use

1689, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nacre

• automaker
• boilermaker
• cabinetmaker
• coffeemaker
• troublemaker
• undertaker
• blackacre
• caretaker
• clockmaker
• dressmaker
• filmmaker
• homemaker

Kids Definition

nacre

noun

na·​cre ˈnā-kər 

: mother-of-pearl