: a hard, shiny, and smooth substance that is on the insides of the shells of some shellfish (such as mussels) and that is used to decorate objects (such as buttons)
Cite this Entry
“Mother-of-pearl.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/mother-of-pearl. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
